Plants now associated with Christmas should more properly be associated with New Year as they pre-date Christianity by many centuries. New Year’s Day was then the mid-winter solstice. Prehistoric stone circles (eg: Stonehenge) are believed to be primitive astronomical observatories. At Stonehenge around Dec.24-25, the mid-winter sun is centered in, and framed by, two stone monoliths. Marking the lowest point of the Sun in Northern Hemisphere skies, the Sun resumes its ascent, bringing re-birth, renewal, and a fruitful earth.
Early Christians were masters at grafting their major festivals onto already existing, well-established pagan rites, thus explaining the dates upon which Christmas and Easter fall (Winter solstice/Vernal equinox). Modern astronomical data pinpoints the exact dates of the solstices in the 24 hours falling between 21/22 of December and June respectively,
Mistletoe – a partial parasite - is one plant more suitably associated with New Year. Ancient Greeks believed it had mystical powers, and over many centuries it came to number among the most magical, mysterious, and sacred plants of European folklore. To the Romans, Celts and Germanic peoples of the 4th century B.C., mistletoe was known as the ‘Golden Bough’. In Celtic language mistletoe means ‘all-heal’. It cured diseases; rendered poisons harmless; made the barren fertile; kept one safe from witchcraft; protected the house from ghosts; brought good luck to anyone who possessed it.
The Celts hung sprigs of mistletoe in their homes to welcome the New Year and to ward off evil. It was hung above a baby’s cradle to protect the newborn from fairy theft. Mistletoe, regarded as both a sexual symbol and the ‘soul’ of the oak, was gathered at both mid-summer and winter solstices, and is still ceremonially plucked on mid-summer eve in some Celtic and Scandinavian countries.
In England and Wales farmers fed the Christmas bunch of mistletoe to the first cow calving in the New Year. This brought good health and productivity to the entire herd. Kissing under the mistletoe began with the Greco/Roman festival of Saturnalia; later primitive marriage rites. In Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant of peace, under which enemies could declare a truce, or warring spouses kiss and make-up. In some parts of England the Christmas mistletoe is burned on the Twelfth Night lest all the boys and girls who have kissed under it never marry. In France, kissing under the mistletoe was reserved for New Year’s Day: ‘Au gui l’An neuf’ (Mistletoe for the New Year).
Medical research has found substances in mistletoe that can slow down tumor growth. The sprigs of this plant are regarded as a symbol of hospitality.
“May the log burn; May the wheel turn”
”May evil spurn; May the Sun return.”
The Yule log symbolizes the light returning to conquer darkness. The log must be harvested from the householder’s land, or given as a gift; it must never be bought. Once in the fireplace it is decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze. The log should burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after, before being ceremonially put out on Twelfth Night.
The log is a remnant of bonfires the European pagans set ablaze at winter solstice symbolizing the Sun’s return. The oak log should be very dry so it will blaze well. On mid-winter’s night, carve a symbol of hopes for the coming year on it, then burn to release its power. Decorate with red ribbons and dried holly leaves. In the fireplace or bonfire area, set dry kindling. The log can be any wood. (Oak is traditional.)
This burning can easily become family tradition with the story of the Oak King and Holly King from Celtic mythology, or simply summarized by saying that the Oak is the waxing solar year, (Winter to Summer Solstice); the Holly the waning solar year, (Summer to Winter Solstice.)
The family sits quietly in the darkness contemplating the year’s changes. Each in her/his own way contemplates the events of the past year. The Yule Log fire is lit and as it begins to burn, each person throws in one or more dried holly sprigs saying farewell to the old year – its pleasures and pains. When the log itself starts blazing, each person throws in an oak twig or acorn representing the year ahead, calling out a resolution and/or a hope.
After this, the group sings a song together. The traditional carol, “Deck the Halls,” is good as it mentions the Solstice, changes in the solar year, and the Yule Log. Let the log slowly burn to charred wood and ashes, extinguishing all on Twelfth Night. Following ancient tradition, save remnants somewhere in the house (believed to protect against fire) using them to start next year’s Yule fire.
Twelfth Night : is the night when all Christmas symbols and decorations should be taken down and put away. Other customs are:
Burning the Bush: This custom belongs to New Year’s Day or during Twelfth Night festivities. Thirteen bonfires are lit; a main central one surrounded by twelve smaller ones. A Hawthorn globe, filled with straw, is thrown on the central fire. While it burns a new globe is made, doused in cider, and scorched in the embers. A chant of ‘Old Cider’ is repeated nine times, after which the new globe is put away for the following year.
Wassailing: A very ancient, Anglo-Saxon word – ‘Wass Hael’; means ‘To your health’. On Twelfth Night a wassailing bowl is filled with a drink known as lamb’s wool. Each person drinks from the bowl, wishing ‘Good Health’ to all present. The bowl itself is decorated with greenery. Other wassailing traditions and customs show how popular and deeply entrenched in English society they are.
Poor people and families would go caroling with an empty wassail bowl requesting food and drink. They also carried wassail sticks and branches, finely decorated with greenery and ribbons. Another tradition is that of wassailing trees - especially apple trees. At dusk, people sang songs, poured cider on the roots, and hung pieces of toast from the branches. Horns were blown to scare away evil spirits.
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