A modern Druid blesses Christmas mistletoe in a celebration Tenbury Wells, England.
Image © Christopher Furlong/Getty Images 2005Mistletoe as Medicine:
In 50 C.E., the Greek physician Dioscorides wrote his Materia Medica, establishing himself a place in medical history. As one of the ancient world's most knowlegable herbalists, Dioscorides found that mistletoe helped cure his patients of external tumors. He wrote that it “has the power to disperse, soften, drawing and assisting tumors of the parotid gland and other lesions…” Some forty or so years later, Pliny the Elder wrote of the treatment of sores and epilepsy with mistletoe in his Natural History. He also described its use in magic and ritual.
The Druids and Abundance Rituals:
Pliny wrote that Druid elders performed rituals in which they harvested mistletoe -- a botanical parasite -- from oak trees with golden sickles. It was collected under a waxing moon phase, and then fed to animals to guarantee their fertility. As part of the rite, a pair of white bulls were sacrificed, and if prayers were answered, prosperity would be visited upon the villages.
Those Wild Romans and Saturnalia:
No one loves a party like the ancient Romans, and their festival of Saturnalia is one of the most well-documented celebrations of the Winter Solstice. This week-long bacchanal included exchanging of gifts, lots of food and wine, dancing and music. Slaves got the week off work, courts were closed, and all kinds of debauchery took place. This festival honored Saturn, of course, and he was an agricultural god. To keep him happy, fertility rituals1took place under the mistletoe. Today, we don't quite go that far under our mistletoe (at least not usually) but it does explain where the kissing tradition comes from.
Jesus and the Naughty Mistletoe:
As the Roman Empire crumbled and Christianity spread, a rumor began in France that the cross upon which Jesus died was made of mistletoe. As punishment for its involvement in the crucifixion, the plant was forbidden to grow out of the earth, and was demoted to being a botanical parasite. It now has to have a host plant, such as the oak or the ash, apparently more well-behaved and virtuous trees.
Mistletoe as Medicine Once More:
During medieval times mistletoe was again recognized for its medicinal properties, and appears in several folk remedies. To ward off demons, twigs of mistletoe could be hung in bundles over a door. In some countries, springs were placed in the stable to protect livestock safe from local witches. Mistletoe was also known to rural people as the best cure for barren women; in fact, mistletoe seems to have been a cure-all for any problems with conception, because early societies were baffled by its method of propogation. Interestingly, the Cherokee people used the North American strain of mistletoe as an abortaficient.
Mistletoe as a Parasite:
The plant we know today as mistletoe has no roots of its own. What it does have is tiny extensions called holdfasts, that grip onto the bark of the host plant. They also serve as a sort of umbilical cord, and suck the nutrients from the host. Because of its dependence on the host, mistletoe is only found on living trees. Mistletoe plants can be either female or male; only the female has the beautiful but highly toxic berries.
Grow Your Own Mistletoe:
Because mistletoe is a parasite, you can grow your own fairly simply -- as long as you're willing to sacrifice another plant as a host. The kind available in the stores at Christmas is harvested while immature, so don’t bother trying to use those berries as starters for your plants. Instead, wait until spring, when you can pick some plump, white, mature berries.
Be sure to get one from a host plant similar to the one you wish to use as a host for the new growth. Choose a hardy branch on a healthy mature tree, and make a few small incisions in the bark. the further up you can go, the better -- it allows for more sunlight to reach your seedlings. Remove the skins from the seeds, and place them inside the tree bark. Cover the seeds with some jute or other protective covering, or you'll end up with a big bird feeder and no mistletoe.
Plant lots of seeds, because you need both males and females to propagate the new growth, and only about ten percent of seeds actually germinate properly. It takes about five years, but eventually your mistletoe will reach berry-producing size.
Remember, mistletoe berries are poisonous. Consuming large quantities of leaves or berries can be fatal – especially to young children, who have been known to ingest berries. If someone is suffering from mistletoe poisoning, get them to an emergency room -- do not try to treat this yourself. Mistletoe should not be used by nursing moms or pregnant women.
The great thing about mistletoe is that if you use it magically, you don't have to worry about taking it internal. Considering all of its wonderful magical properties, it can be used in many different ways.
- Place leaves in a pouch for an ill person to carry on their person.
- To draw love to you, hang mistletoe over your door.
- Place leaves in a sachet for a woman having trouble conceiving.
- The Norsemen laid down their arms if they met beneath a growth of mistletoe -- why not use it in a working to end strife and discord in your life?
- Follow the ways of the Druids2, and hang mistletoe to bring abundance your way.
The Legend of the Holly King and the Oak King
In many Celtic1-based traditions of neopaganism, there is the enduring legend of the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King. These two mighty rulers fight for supremacy as the Wheel of the Year2 turns each season. At the Winter Solstice, or Yule3, the Oak King kills the Holly King, and then reigns until Midsummer, or Litha4. Once the Summer Solstice5 arrives, the Holly King returns to do battle with the old king, and defeats him. The Holly King them rules until Yule.
In some Wiccan traditions, the Oak King and the Holly King are seen as dual aspects of the Horned God6. Each of these twin aspects rules for half the year, battles for the favor of the Goddess, and then retires to nurse his wounds for the next six months, until it is time for him to reign once more.
Often, these two entities are portrayed in familiar ways - the Holly King frequently appears as a woodsy version of Santa Claus. He dresses in red, wears a sprig of holly in his tangled hair, and is sometimes depicted driving a team of eight stags. The Oak King is portrayed as a fertility god, and occasionally appears as the Green Man or other lord of the forest.
Ultimately, while these two beings do battle all year long, they are two essential parts of a whole. Despite being enemies, without one, the other would no longer exist.
Go a-Wassailing For Yule!
The tradition of wassailing (pronounced to rhyme with fossil-ing)is hardly a new one. In centuries past, wassailers went from door to door, singing and drinking to the health of their neighbors. The concept actually harkens back to pre-Christian fertility rites -- only in those ceremonies, villagers traveled through their fields and orchards in the middle of winter, singing and shouting to drive away any spirits that might inhibit the growth of future crops. As part of this, they poured wine and cider on the ground to encourage fertility in the crops.
Eventually, this evolved into the idea of Christmas caroling1, which became popular during the Victorian era, and is still seen today in many areas. If you think your family or friends might enjoy starting up a new, musical tradition, why not gather them together to go out a-wassailing for Yule? The following are traditional, secular wassailing songs which were performed back as early as the days of King Henry VIII2. Although some are Christian in background and make references to "God" in their original form, I've made Pagan-friendly substitutions in some places. You can always change these to accomodate a particular deity of your tradition.
After you get home from your night of singing, relax by your fire with a pot of spiced wassail3 or hot buttered rum4!
The Wassail Song (traditional English)
Here we come a-wassailing
among the leaves so green.
Here we come a-wand'ring
so fair to be seen.
Love and joy come to you,
and to all your wassail, too,
may the gods bless you, and send you
a Happy New Year,
the gods send you a Happy New Year.
Good master and good mistress,
as you sit beside the fire,
pray think of us poor children
who wander through the mire.
Love and joy come to you,
and to all your wassail, too,
may the gods bless you, and send you
a Happy New Year,
the gods send you a Happy New Year.
Bring us out a table fine
and spread it out with cloth;
Bring us out a farmer's cheese,
and some of your Christmas loaf.
Love and joy come to you,
and to all your wassail, too,
may the gods bless you, and send you
a Happy New Year,
the gods send you a Happy New Year.
Gloucestershire Wassail (multiple versions available, believed to be Saxon in origin, Middle Ages)
Wassail, wassail all over the town
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown,
We bring a bowl made of the white maple tree,
and with the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee!
So here is to Cherry and to his right cheek,
the gods send our master a good piece of beef
and a good piece of beef that may we all see.
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee!
And a toast to Dobbin and to his right eye
pray the gods send our master a good Christmas pie
a good Christmas pie that may we all see.
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee!
So here's to Great Big Mary and her great big horn,
may the gods send Master a good crop of corn,
and a good crop of corn that may we all see.
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee!
And a toast to Moll and to her left ear,
may the gods send our master a happy New Year,
And a happy New Year as e'er he did see.
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee!
And here is to Auld Colleen and her long tail,
may the gods guard our master that he never fail,
a bowl of strong beer! I pray you draw near,
and our jolly wassail it's then you shall hear!
And here's to the maid in the lily white smock,
Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock,
Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin
For to let these jolly wassailers in!
Apple Tree Wassailing (Somerset, 18th Century or earlier)
Hurray, hurray, in our good town
The bread is white, and the liquor brown.
So here my old fellow I drink to thee,
and the long life of every other tree.
Well may you blow, well may you bear,
blossom and fruit both apple and pear.
So that every bough and every twig
may bend with a burden both fair and big.
May you bear us and yield us fruit such a store,
that the bags and chambers and house run o'er!
Chocolate Santas
We can probably thank the Germans for the chocolate Santa.
Image © Getty ImagesEveryone loves Santa Claus1, and everyone loves chocolate. Put them together, and you've got a delicious holiday treat. But what inspired this idea in the first place? Who came up with the idea of chocolate Santas? And is it really nothing more than ritualized cannibalism?
Chocolate is known as an aphrodisiac2 the world over today, but until fairly recently, it was mostly the domain of the Aztecs, the Mayans, and European royalty. In the mid-nineteenth century, the Industrial revolution brought equipment that mixed dried cocoa powder with cocoa butter. This resulted in a form of chocolate that was not only pourable, but moldable. Most likely, the Germans can take credit for making the first chocolate Santa Clauses -- December 6 is known as Nikolaustag, or St. Nicholas' Day, and the traditional gift appears to have been a toy and a piece of chocolate.
In the book Pagan Christmas, authors Christian Ratsch and Claudia Muller-Eberling posit that the ritual consumption of the chocolate Santa is a way of "butchering" Father Christmas after we've unwrapped our gifts. But maybe -- just maybe -- we do it because chocolate is really, really delicious!
The Legend of Mithras
Members of the Roman army often paid tribute to Mithras.
Image © Caitlin Hyatt 2007, used with permissionChristianity hardly has a monopoly on the theme of resurrection, particularly around the winter holidays. A couple of thousand years ago, followers of a god named Mithras celebrated rebirth in much the same way as the followers of Jesus do today. Mithras was an early Roman god of the sun, who was born around the time of thewinter solstice1 and then experienced a resurrection around thespring equinox2. Sound familiar?
The cult of Mithras was a mystery religion, like that of Cybele3 and many other Roman Pagan beliefs4. Author Ceisiwr Serith5 describes the cult's temples, or Mithraea, as being relatively small6, and typically hidden underground. He also points out that it was only open to men, and very secretive, so it's unlikely that it was truly a big rival to the incoming Christian belief system.
In one legend, Mithras, who was popular amongst members of the Roman military, was ordered by the Sun to sacrifice a white bull. He reluctantly obeyed, but at the moment when his knife7 entered the creature's body, a miracle took place. The bull turned into the moon, and Mithras' cloak became the night sky. Where the bull's blood fell flowers grew, and stalks of grain sprouted from its tail. Mithras himself ascended to the light, and spent the rest of eternity hanging out with the Sun.
British author and poet Rudyard Kipling8, who was fascinated by Mithraism, wrote Song to Mithras, which concludes as follows:
Mithras, God of the Midnight, here where the great bull dies,
Look on thy children in darkness. Oh take our sacrifice!
Many roads thou hast fashioned--all of them lead to the Light:
Mithras, also a soldier, teach us to die aright!
Ceisiwr Serith has a great essay on his website about why Christianity isn't stolen from the cult of Mithras, and it's one well worth reading. If you're interested in more about Mithras, check out his Mithraism Index9.
The Legend of La Befana
La Befana is a kind old woman who delivers gifts to good children.
Image © Getty Images; Licensed to About.comThe Legend of La Befana:
In Italy, the legend of La Befana is one that is popularly told around the time of the Epiphany. What does a Catholic holiday have to do with modern Paganism? Well, La Befana happens to be a witch.
According to folklore, on the night before the feast of the Epiphany1in early January, Befana flies around on her broom, delivering gifts. Much like Santa Claus2, she leaves candy, fruit, or small gifts in the stockings of children who are well-behaved throughout the year. On the other hand, if a child is naughty, he or she can expect to find a lump of coal left behind by La Befana.
La Befana’s broom3 is for more than just practical transportation - she also will tidy up a messy house, and sweep the floors before she departs for her next stop. This is probably a good thing, since Befana gets a bit sooty from coming down chimneys, and it’s only polite to clean up after oneself. She may wrap up her visit by indulging in the glass of wine or plate of food left by parents as thanks.
So, where did La Befana come from? How did a kindly old witch become associated with the celebration of the Epiphany? Many of the stories behind La Befana involve a woman who is searching but unable to find the newborn infant Jesus.
In some Christian legends, it is said that Befana had been visited by the three Magi4, or wise men, on their way to visit the baby Jesus. It’s said that they asked her for directions, but Befana wasn’t sure how to find the newborn infant. However, being a good housekeeper, she invited them to spend the night in her tidy little home. When the Magi left the next morning, they invited Befana to join them in their quest. Befana declined, saying she had too much housework to do, but later she changed her mind. She tried to find the wise men and the new baby, but was unable to, so she now flies around on her broom delivering gifts to children. Perhaps she is still searching for the infant Jesus.
In other tales, La Befana is a woman whose children have died in a great plague, and she follows the wise men to Bethlehem. Before leaving her house, she packs up some simple gifts - a doll that belonged to one of her children, and a robe sewn from her own wedding dress. These plain gifts are all she has to give to the infant Jesus, but she is unable to locate him. Today, she flies around delivering gifts to other children in hopes of finding him.
Some scholars believe that the story of La Befana actually has pre-Christian5 origins. The tradition of leaving or exchanging gifts may relate to an early Roman custom that takes place in midwinter, around the time of Saturnalia6. Befana may also represent the passing of the old year, with the image of an old woman, to be replaced by a new year.
Today many Italians, including those who follow the practice of Stregheria7, celebrate a festival in La Befana’s honor.
The Standing Stones of the Orkney Islands
The standing stones of Orkney are known for their magical properties.
Image © Getty Images; Licensed to About.comFar up in the North Sea, off the northernmost tip of Scotland, lie the Orkney Islands. Made up of several dozen small islands, this area was populated by Norse travelers hundreds of years ago. Just fifty miles from Greenland’s southern coast, Orkney today boasts a total population of only about twenty thousand people. Originally settled by the tribe known as Picts, in the eighth century, or thereabouts, Norse voyagers moved in, and it is there language and culture that has greatly influenced Orkney society throughout the years since.
Orkney has a number of standing stones, and many of the Orkney stones appear as solitary megaliths, rather than in circles, henges, or other formations1. Made of flagstone, they’ve been dated at over three thousand years old.
There’s a fascinating legend in Orkney, detailing the movement of some of the region’s standing stones. It is said that at various times of the year - particularly around Yule2 and Hogmanay3, the stones walk in the night to the nearest body of water, and bend down to take a drink.
According to the website Orkneyjar4, “It was generally thought to be bad luck to see these walking stones, so locals would avoid the areas surrounding the stones until well after sunrise on New Year's Day.”
The Ring of Brodgar5, in particular, is known as a magical place. Said to be a ring of dancing giants turned to stone in the glittering sunrise, this ring is the host of a number of local myths and legends.
Other tales have it that the standing stones were once witches, who were turned to rock through the forces of magic.
While you may not be able to set up a giant megalith in your own back yard, you can incorporate the magic of standing stones into your Yule altar.
- Select a number of large stones to place in a ring around your ritual space. You can use thirteen to represent the thirteen lunar phases6, eight to symbolize the NeoPagan sabbats7, or have one for each member of your group.
- If you’re limited on space, use a single large stone, or a ring of smaller ones.
- Decorate your stone or stones with runes8, symbols of your tradition, holly, mistletoe9 or even candles to ring in the Yule season.
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