g
Printer Friendly Version

editor  
BellaOnline's Christian Living Editor
 

Mistletoe - A Christmas Superstition

As a child, I remember the mistletoe hanging from ceilings or in doorways in almost every home during the Christmas holidays. I never questioned the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe. It was just something everyone did.
Looking into it as and adult, I see that mistletoe is connected to many superstitions.

It seems that the traditions originated with the Druids. They considered it a sacred plant with miraculous powers to cure illnesses, guarantee fertility, serve as an antidote to poisons and even protect against the spells of witchcraft. Whenever enemies met under this sacred plant they had to lay down their arms and observe a truce until the next day. The custom of hanging a ball of mistletoe from the ceiling and exchanging kisses under it as a sign of goodwill came from this.

Since then other cultures have added and adjusted their beliefs about mistletoe to fit the culture and current needs.

What does this mean to me as a Christian?
People love to create talismans of good luck and predictors of the future. We like to be in control. That's the danger of superstition - when we look to an object to ensure or predict our future, we are forgetting something. We have a Creator who controls the future and holds our lives in His capable and loving hands.

Matthew 6:25-34 tells us to seek the Kingdom of God and not to worry about our future because our Father knows what we need and can provide for us. His plans are far better than anything we can imagine.

Still, Christmas traditions can be fun. At this year's holiday parties, if I happen to find myself under the mistletoe, I'll look around for my husband for a kiss. And during that kiss, I'll be thanking God for giving us the gift of sharing in the love that He provides.



Humor, Coffee, Friends, and a Murder

Christian Living Site @ BellaOnline
View This Article in Regular Layout

Content copyright © 2013 by Lynne Chapman. All rights reserved.
This content was written by Lynne Chapman. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Lynne Chapman for details.



| About BellaOnline | Privacy Policy | Advertising | Become an Editor |
Website copyright © 2023 Minerva WebWorks LLC. All rights reserved.


BellaOnline Editor