| Most of the Christmas home decorations we see | | | | the remedy against poisons. Mistletoe is also |
| in Christmas stores today have evolved from | | | | believed to make barren animals fruitful. |
| many other cultures. Charles D. Warner wrote | | | | Holly was also believed to have magical powers |
| about the Christmas holiday season in 1884. He | | | | and even have the ability to drive demons away. |
| quotes "We have saved out of the past nearly all | | | | In German many considered holly to be a good |
| that was good in it". There is no doubt that | | | | luck charm against the hostile forces of nature. A |
| Christmas as we know it today is better than the | | | | Shropshire custom chose to leave the holly and |
| holidays celebrated in the past. At the mere | | | | ivy up until Candlemas, the mistletoe was left up |
| mention of ivy, mistletoe or holly the visions of | | | | and preserved until the next holiday season. The |
| the Christmas holidays with all its wonderful | | | | hanging mistletoe remained so that good fortune |
| memories comes rushing back into our minds. We | | | | would follow the household till the next holiday |
| see visions of snow covered hills, Christmas tree | | | | season. In the early days food was also central |
| decorations, carolers singing with ringing brass bells | | | | for holiday decorations. As the Christmas season |
| and lighted outdoor Christmas decorations, lighting | | | | grew near huge batches of candies, cookies and |
| up the night sky. In the winter when most native | | | | sweet fruits were prepared for both food and as |
| plants lose their leaves, flowers and fruits, | | | | Christmas Decorations. Not all the early Christmas |
| mistletoe, evergreens, holly and ivy are winter | | | | decorations in the home came from the kitchen. |
| wonders for us to admire. No wonder these | | | | Surrounding woods and fields provided an |
| winter delights were used as decorations to | | | | abundance of flowers, pods, straw and foliage for |
| brighten up the cold days of winter. | | | | Christmas Decorations to. |
| Native Plants Become Christmas Decorations. | | | | Holiday Decorations Become Popular Outside the |
| Mistletoe has a special meaning for the Christmas | | | | Home. |
| holiday season. The hanging mistletoe in the | | | | As early as the fifteenth century, Stow's of |
| doorways creates many diversions and plots | | | | London noted that the Christmas custom in every |
| from friends to receive a special kiss under a | | | | household, parish and church was to be decked |
| mistletoe ball. The mistletoe kissing tradition | | | | with items of ivy, bays, holm and other seasonal |
| comes from a Norse myth. Frigga who was one | | | | greens. Many of the elders in England will recall the |
| of the gods gave her son Balder a charm of | | | | old English mode of church decor of sprigs of holly |
| mistletoe so he would be protect from the | | | | and yew stuck into the high pews making the |
| elements. Since mistletoe grows on trees and | | | | churches a miniature forest during the holiday |
| does not grow from the water, the earth, from | | | | season. In London the Christmas decor extended |
| the fire or the air it held the power to harm him. | | | | outside as well when the city light poles, standards |
| An arrow made of mistletoe from one of the | | | | were decorated with holiday decorations. |
| other struck Balder down, and his mother cried | | | | Christmas trimming evolved next into homemade |
| tears of white berries. The tears brought her son | | | | trimmings of knots of bright ribbon, beads, lace |
| back to life and she vowed to kiss anyone who | | | | and paper stars. Lace decorated bags were filled |
| rested beneath the mistletoe plant. So this is how | | | | with candies. Seeds, berries, nuts, popcorn and |
| the mistletoe kissing tradition began. In the early | | | | other homemade materials civilized the wild |
| days mistletoe was called the all-healer in Celtic | | | | beauty of the holidays past. The stringing of |
| speech. There are traces in Britain of the | | | | popcorn and cranberries can still be seen on |
| sacredness of mistletoe as well as holly. In other | | | | Christmas trees today. Even artificial popcorn and |
| European countries mistletoe is believed to | | | | cranberries can be purchased in Christmas stores |
| possess marvelous healing powers for sickness. | | | | today. Tree decor has grown by great strides in |
| Mistletoe is even recognized as a power for | | | | the past century, making the creative and |
| averting misfortune. It was also believed to be | | | | inspirational holiday decorating more delightful. |