 |
 |
|  |
 |
by Willow Ragan
© 2000
Druidic Lore / Traditional medicinal uses / Contemporary medicinal uses
Conclusions / Glossary, Notes and Bibliography
 armers in Britain used to give a sprig to the first cow calving that year. Related to this was the medicinal use of giving a decoction to the calving cow in order to help her discharge the afterbirth.
A Middle Age love potion, reported by Sybil Leek, contained dried Mistletoe berries. These were added to the dried seeds and flowers of Elecampane and leaves of Vervain. All three were ground together into a powder that was supposed to be given to one's intended love, apparently without their knowledge. The most expedient way of accomplishing this was to mix the powder into wine with the assurance that it would "work wondrous effects to your advantage". So much for ethics...but then these people lived in far different times when one's choice of partner wasn't so free. From a purely medicinal perspective, both Mistletoe and Vervain have a soothing and sedating effect on the nervous system. It might be that in combination it was hoped that they would make the recipient of the drink receptive to influences he might otherwise have been immune to. A sprig could be worn by a woman to help her conceive. Once the babe was born, a sprig was hung from or in the baby's cradle to protect the child from abduction by fairies. In view of the natural urge young children have of putting everything in their mouths this was a dangerous practice in itself given the toxicity of the plant. We must assume that it was thought better to have a sick child that might recover than a changeling. Within this category we also find the modern custom of kissing under the Mistletoe during Christmas, Yule and in the case of France, New Year. Sprung from ancient lore, the custom in its present form can be traced in popular culture to at least 18th century England. The County Magazine from 1792 reported that "A custom of kissing the woman under the mistletoe-bush still prevails in many places and is without doubt the surest way to prove prolific". Just exactly when this custom took the shape we know is hard to tell. But there is more to it then the short note in this magazine. It was also tradition that the woman so kissed would marry within the year. If a woman standing under the mistletoe remained unkissed then she had little hopes of marrying the next year. In some areas the kiss could mean either deep romance or lasting friendship and good will, depending on the identity and relation of the kisser. If the two exchanging a kiss were already well acquainted then it was interpreted as a promise to marry as well as a prediction of happiness and long life. For those wishing to observer proper Mistletoe etiquette, it is said that the kisser should pluck a berry when he or she kisses the person standing under the mistletoe, and when the last berry is gone, there should be no more kissing. From the mention in the County Magazine, Yuletide kisses were nothing new to the British people. Where it came from, now that is another matter. There are two possible sources. One is the Greco-Roman midwinter feast of Saturnalia which bears strong resemblance to our own custom of family gathering, feasting, gift exchange and using ever greens to decorate the home. I've run across a reference that this was the earliest association of kissing and mistletoe. The "fertility" aspect of the festival would certainly explain the association of kissing beneath its bough and the belief that this was "without doubt the surest way to prove prolific." This tradition could easily have been integrated into Celtic culture as the Roman culture spread and assimilated the tribes. The other possible source, which also explains some of the protective aspects associated with the herb, is the story of the death of the Germanic god Balder1 who was later Christianized as St-Balder. There were three main waves of Northern Europeans who brought their cultural traditions and beliefs into Britain. The Saxons who began moving in during the mid 5th century, after the collapse of the Roman empire, the late 8th century Viking raiders who became settlers by the late 9th century, and finally the Norman forces during the 11th century. Though christianized to varying degrees, these Germanic people shared similar customs and beliefs and would leave their mark on English culture. They last two waves at least would have known the tale of Balder and the faithful Mistletoe and the decree that had been passed by the goddess Frigg. This is how the story goes: Balder whose name means The Glorious, is a handsome god, son of Odin, god of wisdom and magic and Frigg, goddess of fertility and the household. He is the essence of intelligence, grace and wisdom, considered by some to be a god of light, so bright and shinning is his nature. His wisdom is such that both gods and men come to him to settle legal disputes because his judgements are always reconciling and fair. One night Balder had a disturbing dream which he recounted to this father. After hearing the dream Odin went to the underworld to wake a Volva2 from the dead to find out the meaning of the dream. She foretold Balder's death. On hearing this Balder's mother Frigg exacted an oath form all things; fire and water, iron and all metals, stones, earth, trees, ailments, beasts, birds, poisons and serpents that they would not harm Balder. Now rendered invincible, Balder and the gods amused themselves by launching all kinds of things at him, no matter what was done he was never hurt and all thought this was a fine thing, except one, Loki3. Disguising himself as a woman, Loki sought out Frigg and asked why Balder suffered no harm. Frigg recounted the dream, Odin's journey and the oath exacted from all things with the exception of a mistletoe that grew a short distance form Valhalla. When Frigg had come upon it she had thought that surely it was too small and too young to do Balder any harm. On hearing this Loki took off with great speed and got himself that mistletoe. On his return to the hall where the gods were again amusing themselves throwing all kinds of things at Balder, Loki found Hod, Balder's twin, standing at the edge of the assembly. Loki asked him why he wasn't throwing things at Balder like the others, to which Hod replied that he was blind and furthermore he didn't have a weapon. Then Loki said: "You go and do as the others are doing and show Balder honor like the other men and I will show you where he is standing. Throw this twig at him." Which is exactly what Hod did. The mistletoe went right through Balder and he fell dead in the midst of a shocked assembly…. At this point the story diverges into two separate and contradictory tales. One that Balder was brought back to life by his mother Frigg. In the other version, Balder was forever lost, again through the efforts of Loki, and remains in Hel's4 realm since he was not a warrior, did not die in battle and therefore cannot be admitted to Valhalla. In the tale where Balder is granted life, it is said that all of the elements; fire and water, iron and all metals, stones, earth, trees, ailments, beasts, birds, poisons and serpents shed tears and tried to bring balder back to life, but that finally he was restored by Frigg, his mother. She then decreed that whoever meet stand under the humble mistletoe, no harm would befall them. From this came the tradition of laying down arms and calling a 24 hour truce if one came upon an enemy under a mistletoe bearing tree in the forest. And the custom of hanging Mistletoe over the outside doorway as sign of goodwill and peaceful intent to all who came to the door. Notes; 1.There is some dispute as to the age of this tale and the correct version. Some say the tale dates back to the 10th century, others that it is older. Some that Balder was a mortal hero elevated to godly status others that he was a god. There are two main version of the tale. One from the Prose Edda by Snorri Sturleson, a retelling of which you'll find in this paper. The other is the Gesta Danorum of Saxo Grammaticus. Return to phrase. 2. Seeresses. An in-depth description of a Volva is found in Erik the Red. the woman in the saga wore a cloak with a catskin hood and gloves. She had a belt with a pouch on it, in which she kept her magical items. She also carried a staff. Return to phrase. 3. Loki is a trickster god who aids or hinders the gods as it is convenient to him or when necessary to save his own skin; the wise "fool", renowed for his cleverness, he often manages to find himself at a disadvantage because of his thoughtlesness. Return to phrase. 4. The Germanic Underworld. Return to phrase. |
Druidic Lore / Traditional medicinal uses / Contemporary medicinal uses
Conclusions / Glossary, Notes and Bibliography
