Mistletoe

It absolutely amazes me that your would cut down a tree and can
only think of trying to save a parasite which was growing in it. I
love mistletoe too, but this is the loss of a tree we are talking about. (Incidentally, to answer your question, no, the mistletoe will not live
on its own without a host to support it.)
Pardon me, but have you replaced this tree?

We each need the oxygen produced by a minimum of two evergreen
trees to survive. Our Environment is suffering irreparably from the
loss of trees in rainforests, however the tendency today for grand
old trees to be sacrificed in favour of lawns or because of leaf-drop
is also a contributing factor.

One day, with this rate of global warming, we will remember the cool
shade from these lost trees with nostalgia as we gasp for breath in
unbearable heat.

Gwyl Canol Gaeaf (Winter Solstice) Yule
Druid ar Môn
22nd DEC 2007

Holly King / Santa Claus: There are as many theories of a “historical” Santa Clause (or “Saint Nicholas”) as there are ethnic cultures. As an Keltic folk archetype however, the old man wreathed in holly is the Holly King. He represents the “waning year”, the “old year”, or the “dark half” of the year. At winter solstice the Oak King (or the Sun, or the New Year) is born, and the Holly King’s reign is over.

Mistletoe: The mistletoe was sacred to the Druids. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe may derive from the custom of enemies refraining from killing each other if they should happen to meet under its sacred branches. Presumably the custom became friendlier and friendlier with time. Other scholars say that the lusty connotations of the plant derive from the belief that the clusters of white translucent berries were drops of the God’s (or the Oak King’s) semen. The Oak King takes the place of the Holly King, and rules the waxing year, or the “New Year

Candles: The extinguishing of candles at winter solstice rituals (including Amaltheia’s) represents the deep darkness of the longest night. Their relighting shows us that the light will return to us. In the moments of total darkness, we are “between the worlds”: between the old year’s death and the new year’s conception. Yule Log:
The word “yule” is from the Saxon word for “wheel”. The Yule Log,O.E. geol, geola “Christmas Day, Christmastide,” from O.N. jol (pl.), a heathen feast, later taken over by Christianity, of unknown origin. The O.E. (Anglian) cognate giuli was the Anglo-Saxons’ name for a two-month midwinter season corresponding to Roman December and January, a time of important feasts but not itself a festival.
Burned at Midwinter, is a magical bridge between one year and the next. The fire under the Yule log is lit with a piece of last year’s Yule Log, symbolizing the continuity of the cycles of life. The ashes of the Yule log were scattered on the fields to ensure fertility

WEB PAGE TO KATE

http://www.witchcraft.org/kate.htm

LINK TO LISTEN TO
Emma Restall Orr, Joint Chief Druid of the British Druid Order; Kate West, a Wiccan High Priest of the Hearth of Hecate and Richard Thomas, an Anglican priest discuss modern Paganism.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/autumnequinox.shtml

PAGAN WICCA LINKS FROM THE BBC

http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/searc…

YEAR CHART YOU CAN PRINT
The Pagan seasonal cycle is often called the Wheel of the Year. Almost all Pagans celebrate a cycle of eight festivals, which are spaced every six or seven weeks through the year and divide the wheel into eight segments.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/

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what i mean is how did it grow in the first place

Research at the Santa Ana Botanic Gardens in California has concluded that the mistletoes have evolved from climbers. The roots would have originally been to help the plant cling to a tree trunk much as ivy does today. These roots developed the ability to penetrate the supporting plant and eventually to tap nutrients from its vascular system.

A 5 Second Comedy. My bro with some of my friends at school, getting caught under the mystical plant of love.

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Mistletoe has been mentioned in Norse mythology, and also very important to the Druids!

It was fashioned on a spear, and killed the god Baldur (a Norse god). After his resurrection, his mother proclaimed that mistletoe should be sacred, so that it can spread love instead of death. We kiss underneath it to celebrate Baldur’s resurrection.

To the Celtic people, the mistletoe was a supernatural plant, and was considered to have healing powers. They actually believed that it was an antidote to poison (even though it’s poisonous!), and gave fertility.

As far as the botanical history of mistletoe, I couldn’t tell ya. I’m pretty sure its got a high endurance and stays green all winter..that’s probably why the ancient cultures liked it so much. =)

Well that’s it!

Why are mistletoe and dodder unusual plants?

They are both parasitic plants, that means they live from other plants.

Mistletoe is hemi/half parasitic, it contains chlorophyll and is able to photosynthesize but takes minerals and water from its host.
More details:

http://books.google.com/books?id=8xbG3-8zHGkC&pg=PA282&lpg=PA282&dq=viscum%2Bhalfparasitic&source=bl&ots=F8SuDbx_jr&sig=Hu8-TYK1l7tmen2gqTqwqsD5Y-w&hl=de&ei=Wk-1SZmeOomE1QXY74iUAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistletoe

Dodder is a "complete" parasite, it takes all food and water from its host.
More details:

http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA/dodder.html

Song: Pagan Celebration – Celtic Evocation
Artist: Vampiria
Album: Among Mortals (2001)

1.Prelude (Part I – Awake to eternity, Part II – Vampires & mortals) 05:30
2.Legacy In Blood04:19
3.Ambassador Of Morning (Salve Luxfer) 03:48
4.Brother Wolf (The path Of Seventh Moon) 06:45
5.The Hand Of Death 04:48
6.Legend Of A Curse 04:38
7.Crown Of Crows 06:18
8.Pagan Celebration (Celtic Evocation) 05:03
9.Satan Legion´s Comes 04:48
10.Requiem For A Vampire (Forest Of Agony)06:31

Lyrics

Amongs the trees i watch, as the begins of the forest gather, before the flames of a bonfire. Old and demented elves, whip branches of fire against the black earth.
The flames feed on souls, while a demon shakes o pot, the witches gather in a circle and, dead flowers adorn the center. Amidst obscurity. I see taking place, the pagan celebration, of the creatures of the black forest.
Beneath this sky, the contles stars, the wolves sing their saddest song the elves madden, and the witches sleep, now the moon shines in all it’s intensity.
The druids begin to look for mistletoe, the plant that granrs them eternal life, and when the spirits rise, everything shine! Beneath this sky of countless stars i watch.

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I know its plant that attach’s it salf to other tree,s and is poison. What else can you tell me about it?

It establishes itself on the trees from birds that eat its sticky berries and then try to wipe this sticky substance from their beaks, transferring the seeds to the branches, where they root and grow.

European mistletoe, unlike American mistletoe, is less toxic and has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat seizures, headaches, and other conditions. One of its main uses in Europe is for the treatment of cancer. Because of its less toxic nature, the leafy shoots and berries are used to make extracts that can be taken by the mouth (orally). Laboratory studies have found that European mistletoe kills cancer cells and stimulates the immune system as well.

Good ol’ American mistletoe is not a contributor to medicinal advancements to due its slightly toxic nature. For Mr. Pestilence’s benefit and anyone else here that cares, I have added a little excerpt from The "National Institute Of Health and Alternative Medicine" explaining the toxicity of raw un-processed American & European mistletoe just in case anybody is unaware of the fact. Here it is below…..

…."Side Effects and Cautions"

Raw, unprocessed mistletoe is poisonous. Eating raw, unprocessed European mistletoe or American mistletoe can cause vomiting, seizures, a slowing of the heart rate, and even death. American mistletoe is unsafe for medicinal use. Hope this has answered your question.

…$Billy Ray$

‘What Do You Know?’ Christmas Awesomeness: Mistletoe; What’s with all the Kissing?

It’s a parasitic plant with poisonous berries and its name literally means ‘Poop-on-a-Stick’. So, of course we kiss underneath it.

Written and Presented by Steve Frech

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Or would it just be false advertising?

I’d say definitely yes! At least in the Christmas spirit! LOL.