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Usually, downtown Concord is a bustling place. Sometimes, we have to circle around and around, before finding a parking place. However, on Christmas night, it was an enchanting, almost empty sight. The creche set up by the Rotary Club and the Knights of Columbus was set in place, alongside a tall, lighted Christmas tree with a star at the top, both placed in front of the State House.

The dome of the State House was repainted gold, in recent years. When I worked there, I was invited to climb to the top of the dome, one day, and there is quite a view from that vantage point. The State House is located in back of the manger scene and is not visible in the photos here.

The night was cold but not too breezy. I asked Jim to take a photo of the temperature, as it appeared outside of Merrimack County Savings Bank.

For one night, peace reigns on the sidewalks of Concord, New Hampshire.

Patricia and James Cummings

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!

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

We hear that the book Massachusetts Quilts: A Common Wealth, ed. by Lynne Bassett will be available in about three weeks. This is a much awaited quilt history book that seems to be loaded with good information, if the preview is any indication.

Of course, the title is a take off on “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” the collective title of all the towns and cities there.

In other news, we went to the Newington (NH) Mall today, home of Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant. The place is about an hour away, but to celebrate special occasions, it is our destination. As usual, I ordered Pollo Yucatan, and Flan. As usual, it was wonderful. Now, I won’t eat for a week.

There was a lot of traffic on the roads, everywhere, and the mall parking lots were crowded, a good sign considering all the talk of the economy going downhill. Lines of shoppers were long. With more storms predicted for the area, people moved around today. At least the pavement was dry.

Today, we are working on another article (for the May issue of The Quilter). Jim always takes a lot of care in photography and I have a new appreciation of the art due to his efforts to do it “right.”

A nice site came to my attention this morning. Featured are Victorian images can be downloaded free of charge, and directions for how to make a round Christmas ornament.

If anything else interesting comes my way today, I’ll be sure to let you know.

As always,

Patricia Cummings