❄️ MISTLETOE MAGIC ❄️ Ever wondered why we kiss under the mistletoe? Mostly this custom is credited to the Victorians, who are renowned for 'reviving Christmas'. The Victorian era saw many ancient winter customs and traditions spring back to life, including using mistletoe as a symbol for fertility, love, peace, and friendship. In their custom, a berry would be removed after each kiss and you could only kiss another person if there were berries left on the plant. This stems from mistletoe association with fertility. The Celtic Druids allegedly used the berries from the mistletoe to help increase fertility in animals and humans. (Although, it has to be noted that this is not a tried and tested remedy, and mistletoe berries are in fact poisonous and should not be consumed under any circumstances) Pliny the Elder, the Roman scholar who noted down many Druidic customs, wrote that they would ceremoniously cut down mistletoe from the trees with a sickle and catch it in a white cloth. A symbol of purity. In other accounts, if enemies met by accident under a tree that bore mistletoe then they would hold truce for a day. In other customs and mythologies mistletoe symbolises love and peace. Take the famous tale where Baldur, the Norse god, is struck down by an arrow made from mistletoe. Frigging, Baldurs mother and Norse Goddess, declares that mistletoe will be a symbol for love so it can do no more harm. In some accounts she even vows to kiss anyone who passes under the mistletoe. Mistletoe fruits in the winter, its branches heavy with glowing white (and sometimes red) berries, and the custom of using it during midwinter festivals has survived to this day. Although its meaning may have evolved over time, it still holds much of its ancient symbolism and is viewed as a sacred symbol for love and peace. . . . . . #mistletoe #Christmas #christmasdecorations #christmasgreenery #yule - @hedgerow_healing