Twenty-Fourth Journal Entry
I've heard a few questions regarding the traditions surrounding mistletoe and its association with Christmas, so allow me to offer an, admittedly condensed, explanation.
In Norse mythology, Frigga made every plant, animal, and inanimate object promise to cause no harm to her son, Baldr. However, she overlooked the mistletoe. Loki then fashioned a weapon -- sources debate whether it was an arrow or spear -- from mistletoe, and used it to kill Baldr. As a result of the incident, Frigga made the mistletoe a sacred plant, and declared it would now bring love, not death, into the world.
Mistletoe, as well as holly, do not lose their leaves in winter as many other plants do, and thus represented immortality to many ancient cultures. They were sacred to the druids in particular, who used them in their observance of the winter solstice.
In Norse mythology, Frigga made every plant, animal, and inanimate object promise to cause no harm to her son, Baldr. However, she overlooked the mistletoe. Loki then fashioned a weapon -- sources debate whether it was an arrow or spear -- from mistletoe, and used it to kill Baldr. As a result of the incident, Frigga made the mistletoe a sacred plant, and declared it would now bring love, not death, into the world.
Mistletoe, as well as holly, do not lose their leaves in winter as many other plants do, and thus represented immortality to many ancient cultures. They were sacred to the druids in particular, who used them in their observance of the winter solstice.