Mistletoe
by Chris, 12 December, 2014, 1 comments
Three evergreen plants come to mind at this time of year - Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe. Holly and Ivy are 'immortalised' in "The Holly and the Ivy" , a traditional Christmas carol. Both holly and ivy have been part of church decoration since the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries (as recorded in churchwardens’ accounts). Mistletoe, (also known as “the golden bough” or Viscum album), is well known for its connection to Christmas, in particular for the custom of “kissing underneath the mistletoe”. Mistletoe associations go way back and there are many customs and myths surrounding the plant. For example, Druids greatly revered it, believing that it held the soul of the host tree. It would be cut from sacred oak trees with a golden sickle. It was used in folk / herbal medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Now, like many plants, mistletoe is being investigated for its phytochemicals and possible medical uses. Read more...
