Annette1990
12-05-2007, 10:43 PM
Do any of you hang mistletoe in your homes? I have some I hang in near the doorway of my home. Here are some facts I found and wanted to share with all of you.
Mistletoe
The tradition of the mistletoe dates back to ancient history and across many cultures. In general, it is a sign of peace, goodwill and love. From England to Australia and New Zealand, all across Europe and over to Iran, and no less an important tradition in the U.S. and Canada. From as long ago as ancient druid tradition, the mistletoe was seen as a sign of peace and goodwill. Warring tribes chancing across it stopped their battles observed a temporary truce. It was displayed as a sign of truce and peace. Some cultures believed it to guard against witch craft. Other cultures used it in the practice of medicine for a variety of illnesses.
The value of Mistletoe in ancient times and tradition carried a broad enough array of benefit, applications, and value. But, the most important of traditions is in the world of love and fertility. Gentlemen, exhibit extreme caution! In some cultures, most notably in Europe, if you kiss a woman under a mistletoe, it is a proposal of marriage! In many parts of the world, the tradition is much less extreme and shall we say, long lasting? According to most current day traditions, a young woman simply stands under the mistletoe and awaits her lover's kiss. Heaven help the young beau that does not take a hint. Hey guys, in the U.S. it's all right to reverse roles. So if you haven't had a kiss in a while.......
Oh, and one more thought. While you are having a jolly old time under the mistletoe, the proper procedure is to take a berry off the sprig every time you kiss. When the berries are gone, so are the kisses. So, make sure to make those kisses last.
Important: The leaves of mistletoe are poisonous. If there are little ones in the family, you may want to opt for the artificial just for a few years for safety sake.
Did you know? This symbol of love has long and deep traditional roots. But, do you know where those roots grow? Mistletoe is a parasite. It is a plant that lives on trees. It has thick, leathery leaves with white berries.
Mistletoe can be found almost anywhere in the world. There are two major varieties. A North American variety and a European type. It is a parasite, living on a variety of trees and shrubs. Mistletoe sends its roots under the host trees' bark where it taps into the trees' nutrients.While Mistletoe is a parasite, it can live as a plant in soil. Mistletoe seeds are spread by birds who carry seeds stuck on their feet or beaks, and who deposit it in their droppings across a forest. Mistletoe can spread so much across a tree that it can weaken, or even kill it's host.
Harvesting Mistletoe can be simple or problematic. If you are lucky enough to find it on a low growing shrub, you can easily pick it off, and head home. But, most mistletoe is high up in the trees. For sprigs out of reach of a ladder, people resort to shooting it down! Along the way, many of the intended "targets" get too shot up to use.
Mistletoe
The tradition of the mistletoe dates back to ancient history and across many cultures. In general, it is a sign of peace, goodwill and love. From England to Australia and New Zealand, all across Europe and over to Iran, and no less an important tradition in the U.S. and Canada. From as long ago as ancient druid tradition, the mistletoe was seen as a sign of peace and goodwill. Warring tribes chancing across it stopped their battles observed a temporary truce. It was displayed as a sign of truce and peace. Some cultures believed it to guard against witch craft. Other cultures used it in the practice of medicine for a variety of illnesses.
The value of Mistletoe in ancient times and tradition carried a broad enough array of benefit, applications, and value. But, the most important of traditions is in the world of love and fertility. Gentlemen, exhibit extreme caution! In some cultures, most notably in Europe, if you kiss a woman under a mistletoe, it is a proposal of marriage! In many parts of the world, the tradition is much less extreme and shall we say, long lasting? According to most current day traditions, a young woman simply stands under the mistletoe and awaits her lover's kiss. Heaven help the young beau that does not take a hint. Hey guys, in the U.S. it's all right to reverse roles. So if you haven't had a kiss in a while.......
Oh, and one more thought. While you are having a jolly old time under the mistletoe, the proper procedure is to take a berry off the sprig every time you kiss. When the berries are gone, so are the kisses. So, make sure to make those kisses last.
Important: The leaves of mistletoe are poisonous. If there are little ones in the family, you may want to opt for the artificial just for a few years for safety sake.
Did you know? This symbol of love has long and deep traditional roots. But, do you know where those roots grow? Mistletoe is a parasite. It is a plant that lives on trees. It has thick, leathery leaves with white berries.
Mistletoe can be found almost anywhere in the world. There are two major varieties. A North American variety and a European type. It is a parasite, living on a variety of trees and shrubs. Mistletoe sends its roots under the host trees' bark where it taps into the trees' nutrients.While Mistletoe is a parasite, it can live as a plant in soil. Mistletoe seeds are spread by birds who carry seeds stuck on their feet or beaks, and who deposit it in their droppings across a forest. Mistletoe can spread so much across a tree that it can weaken, or even kill it's host.
Harvesting Mistletoe can be simple or problematic. If you are lucky enough to find it on a low growing shrub, you can easily pick it off, and head home. But, most mistletoe is high up in the trees. For sprigs out of reach of a ladder, people resort to shooting it down! Along the way, many of the intended "targets" get too shot up to use.