What does a mistletoe symbolize in France?
Amazingly superstitions are still popular in certain regions of France. Some still believe in the magic power of the mistletoe and hang sprigs in their homes in order to be protected against evil spirits. The other Christmas plants traditionally used are the poinsettia, holly and ivy.
What countries kiss under the mistletoe?
The short answer to this question is there is no one simple reason! The UK tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is thought to have started in the 1700s, but it became much more popular throughout the 1800s. The Victorians especially became big fans of puckering up under the plant – and it’s stuck ever since!
What does a kiss under the mistletoe represent?
The origins of kissing under the mistletoe, a plant that often bears white berries, are often traced to a tale in Norse mythology about the god Baldur. In many tellings, Frigg declares the mistletoe to be a symbol of love after her son’s death and promises to kiss anyone who passed underneath it.
During which holiday to French people kiss under the mistletoe?
Christmas holiday
In the US, kissing under the mistletoe is associated with the Christmas holiday season, but in France it was traditionally a New Years Eve custom.
What is the tradition behind mistletoe?
The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe started in ancient Greece, during the festival of Saturnalia and later in marriage ceremonies, because of the plant’s association with fertility. During the Roman era, enemies at war would reconcile their differences under the mistletoe, which to them represented peace.
Is a mistletoe religious?
But did you know that mistletoe, now considered a holiday plant, was used as a religious symbol in pagan rites centuries before the time of Christ? To the ancient Druids of Britain it was a sacred symbol with both magical powers and medicinal properties.
What happens when your under a mistletoe?
According to custom, if you’re caught standing under the mistletoe, you may get a kiss. Overjoyed, Frigg blessed the mistletoe plant and promised a kiss to all who passed beneath it.
What is the true meaning of the mistletoe?
Kissing under sprigs of mistletoe is a well-known holiday tradition, but this little plant’s history as a symbolic herb dates back thousands of years. Delighted, Frigg then declared mistletoe a symbol of love and vowed to plant a kiss on all those who passed beneath it.
What happens if you don’t kiss under the mistletoe?
In the forest, mistletoe is a bit of a scourge, a parasitic plant that latches on to trees and feeds off of them. But at Christmas, it becomes a symbol of romance. According to the tradition, it’s bad luck to refuse a kiss beneath the mistletoe. After the kiss, the couple is to pluck one of the berries from the plant.
When did they start kissing under the mistletoe?
Just like at Christmas now, kissing under the mistletoe started with the onset of Saturnalia. There is hardly a mention of mistletoe in literature in England until the 18th century. But after this, and particularly in Victorian England in the 19th century, the mention of it flourished all over Europe.
What’s the history of the use of mistletoe?
The History of using mistletoe. The use of mistletoe in folk lore dates back to the ancient Druids. They believed mistletoe to be a sacred plant and it was used in many of their rituals. They thought that mistletoe had mystical powers and held the soul of the host tree.
Who is the goddess of Love and mistletoe?
Frigga the Goddess of Love. These beliefs were rooted in an ever older Norse tradition. North folks indeed believed that the Mistletoe was the Sacred Plant of Frigga the Goddess of Love and the mother of Balder the God of the Summer Sun. One night Balder told Frigga that he dreamed of death.
What kind of berries are on a mistletoe plant?
We tend to think of the berries of mistletoe as white, since most faux Christmas decorations of mistletoe contain this color. But mistletoe berries can be white, red, or pinkish in color. This depends on the type of mistletoe plant.