 |
 
There's more to mistletoe than just kissing...
Traditional uses vary, and many are very ancient.
This page is part of the Mistletoe Pages, which aim to provides helpful information on many aspects of mistletoe includng biology, conservation, control, traditions, harvesting, medicinal usage and traditions in art nouveau.
The full menu is at the top of the page.
|
|
|
Mistletoe and Druids
The druidic mistletoe tradition in Britain is well known. The druidic priesthood valued mistletoe both as a peace symbol and in medicine. They harvested it with a golden sickle, never letting it touch the ground.
Mistletoe on oak, the druids' sacred tree, was especially valued. But is this tradition fact or fiction?
|
|
Most of the druidic tradition is based on the writings of Pliny, and there seem to be few collaborations from other sources. Though he might have embellished his account, or got it second-hand, it has become generally accepted, partly through it’s re-discovery and interpretation in the 18th century by William Stukeley and others.
|
|
Modern druid groups take an active interest in mistletoe, particularly mistletoe oaks. In 2004 a new Druid initiative - the Mistletoe Foundation was established. More information,and current events, on this is available from their website.
There are also many entries on druid-mistletoe issues on Jonathan Brigg's Mistletoe Diary too - for a selection of druid-flavoured entries click here.
|
Fictional druids also still use mistletoe, with Getafix, the druid of the Asterix cartoons, relying on mistletoe to make his superhuman-strength-giving magic potion.
He must harvest it with his golden sickle...
|
 |
Here's Obelix helping out with the harvest...
|
|
|
|
|
|
