Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-12-30

tUHCcTnifsY I'VE miSkistU6s
From Comfort.
The history Of the mistletoe, and
the legends connected with the
plant take the student of them
back to the earliest days of history.
Take the real facts concerning
the plant first and we fad that it
10 a parasite, growing on various
trees. The seeds have q viscons
covering which causes them to stick
to the bills Of birds, and in this way
they are carried from tree to tree
and rubbed of onto the bark where
they will grow il they happen to
find Judgement in an opening in
the bark. The male and female
flowers of the mistletoe are on diff
ferent plants so that many seeds
are not fertile. but when one takes
root in the bark the roots work
their way in between the bark Of
the tree and the wood, there suck
ing the sap Of the tree, and it even
tually died, but never forming any
real connection with the wood of
the tree.
Some people have an idea that
the mistletoe grows mainly on oak
trees, but this is mistake as it is
rarely found on an oak tree. The
real origin of the plant is hard to
trace, but way back in the history
of the Druids we find them gather
ing it with every observance of pur-
ity and sanctity, and making of it
rotations which were partaken of
in connection with animal sacrifices
and solemn ceremonies. 1t was
also made into omulets and SYM
bols which were given to the wer-
shippers.
AS before said, the plant is rare
ly found growing on an oak, but
when the Druids found specimen
growing on the sacred oak il was
carefully protected till a certain
date and then cut with great and
solemn ceremonies. IL none could
be found on the oak trees, then the
superstitious fears Of the people
were aroused and great disasters
were feared for their locality.
The legends connected with the
plant are many, and no matter how
utterly impossible they may be, they
have fascination about them which
is hard to resist.
The parasitic life of the plant il
accounted for according to one fa-
BILE in this way. The plant was
originally a tree, but the cross on
which Christ was crucified was
hewn from the tree aud from that
time on the tree was cursed and
nevermore allowed to grow in the
form of tree, but merely to exist
as a parasite, killing everything to
which it attached itself.
Another legend makes the plant
e life-givfng, or life-destroying
agent, according to the way it is
handled. The plant when found
on an oak is claimed to have won
derfui curative powers, but the sap
which exudes from the plant when
cut is deadly poison and accord
ing to the story, a young lover
searched till he found it, as cure
for his betrothed, but as he cut the
branch he touched the exuding sap
and fell to the ground, dead.
No mistletoe grows in Ireland or
Devonshire and it is claimed that
the lack of it is in part the fulfill
,, ment of curse which the Druids
pronounced on these places
kissing under the mistletoe i a custom so old
that no one can tell just when or how il origi-
mated. and had almost said. no ones cares.
Like all other customs connected with the
plant. the kissing privilege which goes with IL
has legend to show a cause for IL. This one
tells as that the mistle:oe was at first a lovely
maiden who, preferring death to the kisses OF
an amorous monk who was pursuing her.
prayed for deliyerance. and in answer to her
prayer was speedily transformed into mtstle-
toe branch. The monk waited for her return,
but rather than that. she clasped the tree and
remained. leaving those who stood below with
the privilege OF kissing-if they wished to.
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