quiltersmuse.com Blog

During the holiday season, we always hear many songs with the word, “Mistletoe” included. Etymologists can only guess at the origin of the word itself. Of the variations of Mistletoe, all of them are parasitic plants (hemi-parasites) that utilize the resources of a host plant or tree, and have the potential to eradicate that plant.

Mistletoe was once considered an undesirable ecological phenomena until scientists realized that hundreds of species of nesting birds, as well as animals, benefit from its presence. Birds are responsible for pollinating the flowers of Mistletoe. Birds eat the plant’s white berries and distribute its seeds on the bark of trees, causing the spread of Mistletoe. The plant is found in Britain, North America, Australia, and Africa, and perhaps other locations.

Knowing all of that, how did mistletoe come to be associated with Christmas? The tradition of “kissing under the mistletoe” appears to be a transmutation of an old Scandanavian custom. Should enemies happen to meet under the mistletoe, they would call a truce for the day. So, today, should you want to be kissed, I suppose you could carry your own sprig of evergreen mistletoe and hold it over your head, when approaching your intended boyfriend or your beloved.

Alas, all I have ever seen are the fake sprigs of Mistletoe that my mother used to hang from the beams in our living room at the farmhouse. If you happen to have the “real McCoy,” remember to not let children or animals ingest it. The plant’s leaves are poisonous, and if eaten, may cause severe abdominal distress and other adverse symptoms. Conversely, Mistletoe was considered, during earlier times, as a fertility aide, and today, scientists are finding ways to use it for medical benefits.

So you have seen, Mistletoe has had many responses to its existence. First considered a pest, it was later viewed as a safe haven for wildlife and birds. Considered poisonous, it has found medical uses in the past, and more are being developed. Most of all, Mistletoe is part of Christmas. To read a list of many songs in which it is mentioned, read the whole article from which I gleaned the above information:

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

Hope you are enjoying the Saturday before Christmas. In New Hampshire, it is a snowy day and we have a lot more snow on the way, predicted for tomorrow. I love learning about the history of our holiday customs. I hope you enjoyed this post about Mistletoe.

Patricia L. Cummings
Happy Holidays!

In an out of the way park that borders a pond and an old railroad track in Milford, New Hampshire, there stands a beautiful statue made by a sculptor who based the monument tribute on nothing more than Harriet Wilson’s own written descriptions of herself. Harriet was an indentured servant to a local family, and is credited with writing a book called, Our Nig. To those who have studied Our Nig, the book’s genre seems to be a mix of autobiographical accounts and a nineteenth century slave narrative. I have written more about the book in a review.

Recently, we learned that another photo of the statue, taken by James Cummings, will be utilized in the creation of an exhibit in Boston. More details to follow.

Patricia Cummings, Quilter’s Muse

My better half found this while trolling online:

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/216/gallery/57944-a57946-t3.html

If you follow the links, you will see two quilts that adorn the entrances to caves. Apparently, many Chinese have taken to living in underground dwellings that are complete with electricity, compact storage, a “heated” bed, and all the comforts of home … because … it is home!

So, next time you threaten to leave home and go live in a cave, remember to do it in style. It’s a good idea to make your cave entrance quilts, ahead of time.

Patricia Cummings, Quilter’s Muse Publications

The recollection of the song, “The Holly and the Ivy,” made me wonder a bit today about the significance and the symbolism of “holly.” This is what I learned. A legend that is told worldwide is that when King Herod sent his soldiers to find and slaughter any male children, Mary attempted to hide baby Jesus under a scraggly bush. Immediately, the leaves began to grow to plush proportions and the wee child was spared.

Holly survives in the coldest climates and is available in many places to bring into the home as a decoration. It is believed that holly once had white berries, but that the crown that was placed on Jesus’ head caused blood to stream over the berries, transforming them to the red color we know today. For Christians, holly can be a symbol of Christ’s sacrificial blood.

The Ancient Druids that occupied Ireland viewed holly as a religious symbol that possessed mystical powers. This superstition carried forward to the Celtic people who inhabited the same area. They placed holly at entry points of the house, thinking that it would ward off evil spirits.

Even the ancient Romans used holly while observing their December 12th Festival of Saturnalia, a special celebration to honor the Sun God, Saturn. The god supposedly favored holly by allowing it to retain its deep green color all year long.

The holly bush was thought by Roman scientist, Pliny the Elder, (23 A.D.-79 A.D.) to have the ability to convert water to ice.

Some Christmas traditions are observed in song and in action, without our giving even a thought as to the custom’s origin. I thought you might enjoy learning all of the above. Next time you hear the song, “The Holly and the Ivy,” perhaps you will recall these tales.

Patricia Cummings

A lovely story about the origins of the Poinsettia’s associated with Christmas is one that I wrote about in an article for The Quilter magazine, and which also was re-published on my website as follows: http://www.quiltersmuse.com/christmas-stockings.htm

The Poinsettia and its connection to Christmas are rooted in Mexico, where it was customary to bring gifts for the Christ Child to Christmas Eve church services. Legend has it that two poor children had nothing to bring for the baby Jesus on Christmas Eve. All they could do was to pick some green weeds that were growing by the side of the road. When the reached the village church, they lovingly placed the weeds around the altar. Miraculously, the scraggly weeds turned into bright, beautiful red flowers because of the purity of the love of the children.

This year, Gerald Erichsen, the about.com guide for Spanish language, offers more information and historical details about poinsettias, in Spanish, “La Flor de Nochebuena.” The about.com Spanish language site is a terrific resource for learners. If you are interested in improving your language skills, check out the site! Gerald puts a lot of work into it! (Thank you!)

No matter in what language Christmas stories are retold, there is something comforting about tradition, from the Christmas tree to holiday gifts and other celebratory engagements. I make no apologies for mentioning Christmas often. It’s “my” holiday. At the same time, I respect others who have different faith traditions and will make it a point to learn more about them, as I go through life.

My best … de mi casa a tu casa,

Patricia Cummings