Thursday, December 15, 2011

Never Been Kissed...under the mistletoe

Mistletoe...isn't that a weird word?
Anywho...it's true i have never been kissed under a mistletoe.  
Isn't that terrible?! Or is it?  
Anywho in the interest of finding out more about Christmas/holiday traditions...
i went searching online for some history behind the mistletoe.

(disclaimer: the internet is NOT the best place for accurate info all the time but i did my best!)

Source

Thanks to the blog Garden of Eaden for the awesome information.

First of all did you know that the mistletoe is actually a plant which is parasitic?
Parasitic: something that resembles a biological parasite in dependence on something else for existence or support without making a useful or adequate return.

Okay interesting enough however how did a parasite become something we relate to passion, 
joy and the art of making out kissing.  

Well according to my research, in Medieval England, if a woman was wishing to conceive, 
she would wrap a mistletoe around their wrists and waists to increase her fertility.  

In Northern France, the plant is known as Herb de la Croix because it's thought that
 Christ's cross was made from mistletoe wood.   
As a punishment in the role of Christ's death, the mistletoe was seen as cursed 
and no longer welcomed on God's earth.  This explanation relates to mistletoe 
was a parasite dependent on other trees for its life.

I know right...i had no idea! 

In ancient Scandinavia, Norsemen saw the mistletoe as a plant of peace.  
They revered it so much that they happened to engage in battle beneath it 
they would lay down their weapons and maintain a truce until the following day.  
It's believed the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe arose from these legends 
which went hand-in-hand with a Norse story called, the myth of the Baldur.    

The Myth of Baldur goes something like this:
Baldur's death and resurrection is one of the most fascinating of all the old Norse myths and is believed to be at the conception of mistletoe being regarded as a "kissing" plant. 
Baldur's mother was the Norse goddess Frigga, and when he was born she made every plant, 
animal and inanimate object promise not to harm him.
For some unknown reason she overlooked the fated mistletoe plant and the mischievous Norse god of the Norse Loki decided to take advantage of this. In a tale of treachery the malevolent trickster 
Loki discovered her oversight and fashioned a dart made from the plant. 
Then, in a cruel trick, placed it in the hand of Baldur's brother Hodor - the God of Darkness - and offered to guide his hand while teaching him to shoot darts. As he did so, he guided the dart directly into Baldur's heart. Frigga's tears of mourning were so wretched that the hapless mistletoe took pity on her. 
From that time on it bore milky white berries that were formed from her tears. This was the demise of Baldur- a vegetation deity in the Norse myths - and it was the sadness of his death that brought winter into the world. Eventually other Norse gods took pity on her and benevolenty restored Baldur life back to him.
Overjoyed, Frigga pronounced the mistletoe sacred and ordered that it should be used to bring love into the world instead of death. Complying with Frigga's wishes, any two people passing under the mistletoe would now celebrate Baldur's resurrection by kissing underneath it. 

I know, i had no idea!  

The myth of Baldur continued into eighteenth-century England where kissing under the mistletoe became prevalent.  Apparently one is supposed to remove the berries off the mistletoe after each time a couple kisses underneath.  Once all the berries are gone...the privilege of kissing ceases. 

I had a lot of fun looking into the reason behind the mistletoe 
and i actually like the story of Baldur (& Frigga).  
And now excuse me because i need to go find a mistletoe and  make out kiss Mr. Pancakes all over!

Questions of the Day
Have you been kissed under the mistletoe?
Did you know about the myth of Baldur?

Source
Didn't want to scare anyone BUT it's 10 days before Christmas!

28 comments:

Summer-Raye said...

How cute, I haven't been kissed under mistletoe... I should change.

Darby Hawley said...

I had no idea there was so much history behind this tradition. Wow, I definitely learned a few things this morning :-) I've been kissed by my hubby under the mistle toe. I actually have a glass and glitter mistle toe that I keep up year-round hehe I can never have too many kisses from him, right?

Kirsten Harr said...

I've never been kissed under a mistletoe either and I didn't know the myth..hmmm I need to buy some and kiss my honey :)

Hilliary Meisner said...

I have never been kissed under mistletoe either! And I had no about all the history behind the tradition!

I think I need to go buy some mistletoe and change this never been kissed under it thing!

Happy Thursday!

Anonymous said...

i've only been kissed under the mistletoe once but i was pretty young

Stephanie said...

Awww, I love this post! We keep a small mistletoe at our house with a little sign that says "Mistletoe testing done here." : )

Sam W. said...

i need to put up some mistletoe in our house!! i had no idea of the story that goes with it. love that you are researching and sharing :)

Nicole-Lynn said...

Cute post! I was actually JUST thinking of getting a mistletoe for our home! Above our kitchen doorway! I think they're so fun! :)

Heather said...

I love the mistletoe tradition, but have never been kissed under it. Maybe this year, I will!

Anonymous said...

I don't think I've been kissed under the mistletoe in years. I may need to run and get one! ;)
Thanks for the idea.

Unknown said...

i don't think i've ever been kissed under the mistletoe....hmmmmm...must remedy that this season.

aahhh. christmas! so soon!

cheers.

his little lady said...

ha, i've never been kissed under the mistletoe either! this is the year to change all of this!! ha
xo TJ

Unknown said...

I am just learning so much from your posts this week Mrs. P. I love the story it was very interesting. Although I never been kissed under a mistletoe I am keeping my fingers crossed that it happen someday.

Desiray said...

I love the misetole and hubby and I are enjoying it so much

Melissa said...

Wow, learn something new every day. Thank you for sharing the info! I've never been kissed under a mistletoe! But there has to be a first time for everything so maybe I'll have to go find me some of that stuff before Christmas, lol. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Holidays!!!

~xoxo~

CeCe said...

Interesting story! I've never been kissed under the mistletoe...time to invest! lol

Kim said...

Thanks for the history lesson because I never knew the story of the mistletoe. And I've never been kissed under this mistletoe either!

Thriftanista in the City said...

Of course, I use to wear mistletoe in my hair during when I was single. :)

Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama said...

No, I'm pretty sure I've never seen one!

Alida Sharp said...

I am pretty sure I have only seen fake mistletoe...and I cannot remember if I've been kissed under it or not. I think yes?!

Mrs. H said...

I did not know this was the story behind the mistletoe. Of course I only learned about mistletoe moving to US cause back home we don't have this plant. But I have kissed under the mistletoe before.

Bravoe Runway said...

I learned something new today, the history of the mistletoe. :)

Sunshine - www.cancersurvivor26.blogger.com said...

Interesting.. I have never been kissed under a mistletoe either.

www.cancerinthecity.com

Unknown said...

I had no idea of the origin, very interesting! I have been kissed under it, but only when I was 24 lol.

Unknown said...

I sweety!! I hope you, your hubby, and family have a wonderful holiday! Ive never been kissed under the mistletoe either!! Maybe I should put one up in the house! :)

Claire said...

you dont seem to be able to buy mistletoe like you used to...i must look out for some when i next go into town!

Megan said...

This is so cute! What a fun post to educate us all!!

Looms, Lids, and Layers said...

Hey! I enjoyed this post! I didn't know the history either just that you should kiss under it! We do keep one at our home! We used to keep it up daily not just at Xmas but it fell and we didn't replace it.... I am right now just because of this post! We are trying to make it to a million kisses! Lol! Been married 4 years... We may be at 100,000!