Have you ever wonder what the myth about the mistletoe custom, which occurs every year during the Christmas season? I have. So I've done some light research on it. From link 1, link 2 and link 3, apparently the myth of kissing under mistletoe was a combination of the ancient Scandinavian custom and a Norse myth, the myth of Baldur. The Scandinavian custom was
"It was also the plant of peace in Scandinavian antiquity. If enemies met by chance beneath it in a forest, they laid down their arms and maintained a truce until the next day."
The myth of Baldur was
Baldur's mother was the Norse goddess, Frigga. When Baldur was born, Frigga made each and every plant, animal and inanimate object promise not to harm Baldur. But Frigga overlooked the mistletoe plant -- and the mischievous god of the Norse myths, Loki, took advantage of this oversight. Ever the prankster, Loki tricked one of the other gods into killing Baldur with a spear fashioned from mistletoe. The demise of Baldur, a vegetation deity in the Norse myths, brought winter into the world, although the gods did eventually restore Baldur to life. After which Frigga pronounced the mistletoe sacred, ordering that from now on it should bring love rather than death into the world.
And hence, people kiss under the mistletoe as a symbolic way of showing peace and love. In other cultures, like the French, the Anglo-Saxons and the ancient Celtic Druids, it's symbolism may vary slightly. This includes friendship; fertility; goodwill; promise of marriage; happiness and long life.
No comments:
Post a Comment