Mistletoe – Christmas Symbol of fertility and life

Christmas brings with it loads of new hope and new life. It is the celebration of humanity and the proclamation of universal peace justice and sacrifice. Every symbol that is associated with 25th of December has a deep symbolism and is meant to augment the spirit of Christmas. Though the list of symbols is quite long but the zeal for knowing each of these symbols is also irresistible. Mistletoe is one such symbol that is extensively used during the celebration of Christmas.

What is so special about Mistletoe?

Mistletoe has a rich past as it was used by Druids as a welcoming note for winter even before the birth of Jesus Christ. The Druids believed it to have almost magical healing power and used for the purpose of curing many diseases. It was believed that it has the healing power against poison ingestion. Apart from this people believed it to bestow fertility and growth. In addition to that in was used as an aphrodisiac. Later the use of mistletoe was incorporated into Christianity. Mistletoe has the typical characteristic of growing on a plat instead of growing on land.

Let us see what mythology says about mistletoe…

Mistletoe has an important place in mythology. The story goes like this that an arrow made of mistletoe was used to kill Balder who was the God of summer sun and was inevitable for life on earth. Loki used mistletoe for the purpose of killing Balder as any thing on earth could not hurt him. Mistletoe used to grow on oak and apple trees and had no connection with ground. Balder came back to life three days and it is said that the tears shed by Frigga, mother of balder turned themselves to white berries of the mistletoe plant.
And in her joy of getting back her son Frigga declared that any one who would pass beneath the tree would be bestowed with her blessing in the form of her kiss and no misfortune would befall on whoever would stand beneath it. Since then mistletoe has remained a symbol of love and tender feelings.

Tradition

Tradition has it that kissing beneath mistletoe is sacred and formerly it was used for marriage rights. This ritual has its root in the belief that mistletoe has the power of bestowing fertility to women. Till date the custom has it that a lady standing beneath a mistletoe tree is obvious to be kissed and that would give birth to evergreen romance. On the other hand if any unmarried lady fail to be kissed under the mistletoe then it is likely that she will remain unmarried for another year. With every kiss that is planted under the mistletoe a single beery of the plant must be plucked and the kissing can go on only if there is any berry is left on the plant.

The whole episode of kissing under the mistletoe is wrought with fun and thus people enjoy it well during the Christmas celebration. The custom is followed with zest and is an essential part of Christmas celebration.