Plummage

Dear reader, 

Mistletoe's history stretches from sacred pagan rituals to  modern Christmas romance.  It was revered by the Druids for fertility and eternal life, central to Norse myth where Loki used it to kill Baldur, leading to its link with love and peace after Baldur's revival.

This ancient lore evolved into European winter decor for protection then blossomed into the Victorian-era, kissing tradition where berries were plucked fro each kiss, symbolizing love and good fortune.

Celtic Druids considered mistletoe sacred believing its ability to grow without roots on trees(like oak) connected the earthly and spiritual worlds, symbolizing vitality and re-birth used in healing rituals.

One of our most practiced Christmas traditions - kissing under the mistletoe - comes from Victorian times when a boy could win a kiss from a girl for each mistletoe berry he picked from his bunch.  This game probably originated from a Norse legend in which the goddess Frigga declared mistletoe a symbol of love. 

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From Richard Hayes   December 20th  1772 in Kent

'I now have strawberries in bloom as white as though in the month of May, under north wall, and a young elm in beautiful green leaf, planted over the way in Elm Grove.  Was it now the month of may I should soon have a ripe strawberry for dessert.   Wind full south, with a very pleasant and warmish breeze as I have felt colder in May and June.'

 

From Dorothy Wordsworth  December 20th  1801 in Westmorland

'Sunday.    It snowed all day ......It was very deep snow.   The brooms were very beautiful, arched feathers with wiry stalks pointed to the end, smaller and smaller.   They waved gently with the weight of the snow.' 

 

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Plumage

 

 

Deep in the humid forest

Scenting strongly of rich earth,

The bird of Paradise trips

Backwards and forwards on a tree branch,

Utters loud cries, jumps small jumps,

Dances the pas de deux,

Fans out his tail feathers,

Pink, aquamarine, blue and red

Yellow and green,

To entice female birds

To fall in love with him.

 

And sometimes they do.

 

The human male

Getting ready for a date

might slick back his hair,

smile at himself in the mirror,

put on a bright coloured shirt

red silk tie, and yellow waistcoat,

pat on some after shave

hum a tune, dancer a step or two,

and sally forth,

hoping some female will

fall in love with him.

 

And sometimes they do.

 

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Happy New Year my dear Friends,

 

with best wishes,

Patricia