MISTLETOE MYTHS
When we weave garlands of Christmas greenery each branch of foliage typifies some ancient virtue, suggests a hoary superstition, and carries a meaning far beyond that with which a decorator regards it. According- to the ancients the laurel communicates I lie spirit of poetry. To gain poetic inspiration a man should sleep with a sprig of laurel under his pillow. Bay has several meanings. It has always been associated with victory, while it is supposed to protect the wearer from lightning. The withering and shrivelling of its leaves was said to fortell death, which may account for the superstition that evergreens should not remain in the house after Twelfth Night,
The Romans used to send one another sprigs of holly as emblems of good luck. Immortality is denoted by the yew. For this reason it is always used to decorate churches at Christinas time.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2675, 22 December 1923, Page 1
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146MISTLETOE MYTHS Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2675, 22 December 1923, Page 1
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