New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-23
CREATIONS OF YULETIDE.

AMONG THE MANY BEAUTIFUL DEC
CREATIONS OF YULETIDE.
In spite OF the awful tragedy that followed the
hanging Of the mistletoe bough In the castle hail.
the silvery branch. with Its delicate green leaves
and pear-like berries. Increases in popularity as
Christmas seasons come and go.
II IS not nearly pretty the vivid holly or
trailing pine but It has ancestors and excellent
family connections legends and mysteries are as
ISOLATED with the word: priests held II sacred In
bygone days, and the bright-eyed. rosy-cheeked
maidens OF all ages have adored II, until II has
grown TO be regarded as the aristocrat among the
early decorations OF the Yuletide In all lands.
Among the Druids the mistleoe a object Of
especial venera tion-that is. when II had entwined
itself about the sturdy oak instead Of having Sc
ected apple or pear tree which Is Its usual GUS
tom. for the oak the .acred tree Of the Druid
priest. and the mstletoe parasite OF the oak
was credited with occult curative powers even to
the extent OF being an antidote for poison.
As healing potion II has hold on the mind OF
tho modern maid but as an antidote for celibacy
she is willing 10 pin her faith TO the small green
bough regardless OF tragic legends
sequences.
UNDER THE MISTLETOE.
kissing under the ms,letoe Is undoubtedly
innocent survival from the saturnalia OF the an
clients when the mstletoe a sacred flower graced
boards
priest and people.
In England the superstition still holds that the
maid who IL allowed pass under the mistetoe
branch on Christmas Eve unkissed Will remain I'M
welded for another year.
In France the custom Of kissing under the white
berries does hold. and the laurel. the pine the
holly and the De Noel FAR more popular as
Christmas decoration than the undecorous rnisle-
toe-that holiday advance agent OF matrmony
The mistletoe has become associated with the
oak from various stories and legends that 1t Is
somewhat astonishing TO learn that scarcely any
oak trees in all England overgrown with the
decorative parasite. That the same fact held true
in olden days may be CLEANED from paragraph In
an old manuscript In the British Museum: And
heare grows the famous misseltoe tree the only
oake In England tina; bears misselioe
So true this. In fact. that II Was tho custom
vines from the apple orchards to the oak forests.
preparatory TO tho Druidc ceremony OF cutting
1t Is a noteworthy TACT that large portion ~
the rnistletoc used In England FOR Christmas deco
ra'ons IS sent from the apple orchards OF Nor
mandy.
In southern sweden the mstlc,oc Is more often
forests: although IN ne nof'h.rn r"ni'''r's "'
Europe IT appcars 10 nave l9Sl - ~, ~
ular winter decoration.
IMPORTED MIsTLTTOE
Much Of tho mls,letoc brough, 20 America FOR
the Christmas festival. Is cut from the forests
OF ron,ainehlcau. In France. shipped to Liverpool
by way u. iiavrc nrd then sent 10 New York tn
sailing vessels A. l.rsi this was ~" Ola way.
The duty now asked IS ~ per cent adj valore:n.
which adds a dollar 20 the cNpens" OF every box
AMERICAN MIsTLEToE
Amerlran-erown Inisiicioc Is loss popular than
the Imported variety II Is. however. sent 20 New
York from New-Jcrscy. Tonnesso" and even Texas
but the Texas berry H. small and yelloHish and
,.r,icrl,ri, perisnablo III. whole amount i'm
ported does not exceed - crates and TINS supplies
ia. Wcailru States. ns well a. Canada.
I'm spitc Of the expense OF III" Nllst'lo' ppHS"
and O.cl SlOIalV. tho extreme dNlcnH! o. pro
c,iria. n II is nov.rfh. css IN" finishing touch 81
the drawing room decorations for thr CHRISTMAS
rrc,ticst and most exciting Of Tn" ne" herman
figures for the Christmas Eve dance .
ON a table hrap'd with punches 81 n"iy, neatly
vrap,cd IN tissue paper Is "A single sifiS OF HiSt'
Toe also wrapped and H. every wa resembling IN"
bolly snrayr The dancers help th'hl-
selves with fear and trembling 10 me uhy PACK
ap,s Will. the gentlemen are following SUIT ~
similar table IT tho other end of IN" room Inc
berry sprigs are unfodcd simultaneously. the pos
SCISSORS OF the pondne branches OF inlst"toe
waltz toward the centre OF N" room mona INC
c,rigs over each Others head. kiss. whether they
TT BRINGS GOOD LUCK.
The down South negroes believe that sprig OF
,nis,looo hung over the cabin door will bring good
Iuck for the coming year. though I'm the South the
white berries possess no oscu latory slSninGanh99r
save M the great house" where the iule,idc
ccebration ia on n scale Of magnihcence unequaiied
I'm any other quarter OF the globe