Besides being used in garlands and arrangements such as the kissing bough, mistletoe also appears in the Christmas wreath. This decoration is hung on doorways to greet visitors during the festive period. These greens dont just provide cheer; to our ancestors they served a very important purpose in keeping malevolent spirits from entering the home. Whilst we now celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas, a succession of days from Yule until 6th January was known in Germany as Rauhnacht, meaning Raw Nights. It was believed that wayward malevolent spirits were abound on these nights, chased by Wodan and his wild hunt. To prevent these spirits entering the home, the doorway was guarded by a protective circle of sacred plants. Holly, ivy, mistletoe, and other evergreens were a popular choice. People unwittingly still use this powerful ward to this day.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 08:45:38 +0000
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