Kissing Under the Mistletoe
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| Tue, 12-04-2007 - 8:28am |
Ever wonder where the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe came from? While there are several variations of stories and myths the most historically accurate is that it started as a pagan ritual. Mistletoe was used by the Druids of the British Isles for years as an anectodote for poision, as well as in important fertility rituals. The plant was sacred to the Druids and once cut from a tree, could not touch the ground. Doing so would cause the plant to lose it's power. As with most European pagans the Druids held a festival on the winter solstice to celebrate the sun god returning to them. They would hang an abundance of mistletoe from the celing of the location of their celebration and have a mass fertility ritual. Meaning they all got together, got naked and had sex until dawn broke the next morning. As years passed the use of mistletoe declined and it's original use diminished to a simple kiss if two people find themselves standing underneath it.
Lothiriel



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i've never heard of the having sex until dawn, but i kind of like that idea.
Hi L !
Thanks - I didn't know this story, but our local paper ran an article about the Yule log and the history of that tradition - I found it very interesting and didn't know a thing about it either before reading the paper...so much preparation beforehand starting in the summer.
It's funny to me that so many 'holidays' are a mixture of Pagan and Christian origin.
"i've never heard of the having sex until dawn, but i kind of like that idea. but this is the season to break out my mistletoe belt buckle ;)"
*snort*
I used to know a guy who wore one of those. Made me laugh all season long. I never did kiss him though. *wink*
~ breath out...so I can breathe you in ~
are you implying that if i were to wear one of those you'd laugh but would be inclined to kiss me under the mistletoe?
*smiles* Exactly right. Though laughing might be a bit extreme. I'd probably just giggle a little while trying to unobtrusively check out the present under the mistletoe before 'blowing' a kiss. *wink*
Nice to meet you too.
~ breath out...so I can breathe you in ~
I'm doing well.
~ breath out...so I can breathe you in ~
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