Legends of the Mistletoe

New Zealand Tablet, 24 December 1908, Page 41

Legends of the Mistletoe

The custom of decorating homes with greenery comes to us direct from our pagan ancestors. Celtic or Teuton, who held their mid-winter festivities at the end of December. Thejiclly and ivy were favored by the Saxons, and St. AugustTne allowed Ins converts to retain the green garlands when the heathen feast of Yule became the holy fe: ia t of Christmas. The mistletoe pf the oak was held sacred by the Druids of Ireland. This white-berried plant was regarded as nn evil thing by the ancient Norsemen, and the Scandinavian legend of. the wicked mistletoe is told in the Norse juvtbology. The day-god of the Norsemen was called Baldur the Good, and he was beloved by gods and men. Daldur wf.s tormented with dreams threatening him, and, n.-/.erding to the legend, his mother, Freya, resolved to take an oath of all animated things that they would not harm b.cr sou. She obtained assent from all save the mistletoe, which she deemed too insignificant .to be feared. Her spell worked well. Baldnr, tnougk often put to the test, remained invulnerable. There was an evil power called Loki, who often sought to mar the happiness of the gods. He saw with jealous eye their sport, as each in turn hurled missiles at Baldur, and he resolved to find out the secret. So, changing himself into the form of a fair maiden, he hastened to Freya and related what he had seen. The goddess told him the secret of the matter. 'What!' exclaimed Loki, 'have all things sworn to spare Baldur ? ' ' All plants save one little plant called mistletoe,' she replied. ' I thought that too young and feeble to crave an oath from it.' Then Loki flew joyfully away to the snot where the parasite grew. Returning, he resumed his own form to the gods. Observing one who was" blind standing by himself, he asked, 'Why dost not thou throw something at Baldur?' ' Because,' said the god, ' I am blind and have nothing to throw.' Loki placed tho mistletoe in his hand, saying, ' I will direct thy arm.' Under the guidance, of the evil god the plant was thrown. It pierced Baldur, and he fell down dead. In ancient Ireland the Druid priests cut the* mistletoe once a year with a golden sickle, and received the branches solemnly on white cloths. Then, of course, good luck for the year to come was assured, and witches — who were especially afraid of the mistletoe— didn't dare to show their ugly faces in any house guarded by a bit of the mystic plant. •