12/16/22
I learned today that the mistletoe tradition, which we may culturally recognize as “a person tries to kiss another under the mistletoe” is known and practiced as being some kind of good luck charm, and is historically related to a blessing of fertility, that comes from a practice thought to be originated by Celtic Druids. (Dictionary.com). I wondered before what this “Druid” word meant.
From the Wikipedia article called “Druid” –
In about 750 CE, the word druid appears in a poem by Blathmac, who wrote about Jesus, saying that he was “better than a prophet, more knowledgeable than every druid, a king who was a bishop and a complete sage.”[5] The druids appear in some of the medieval tales from Christianized Ireland like “Táin Bó Cúailnge”, where they are largely portrayed as sorcerers who opposed the coming of Christianity. [6] In the wake of the Celtic revival during the 18th and 19th centuries, fraternal and neopagan groups were founded based on ideas about the ancient druids, a movement known as Neo-Druidism. Many popular notions about druids, based on misconceptions of 18th-century scholars, have been largely superseded by more recent study.
I think its tradition is related to sorcery, so although I won’t kiss anyone under the mistletoe, I think it’s good to know where the idea comes from.
This is what Paul (apostle Paul in the Bible) said about sorcery:
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21 NASV)
Rebekah's Reflections 