Take the tangible images and traditions of Christmas and use them to teach the intangible, concepts concerning Christmas. For the next 25 days, this blog will be relating the real meaning of Christmas with traditional seasonal objects so that you and your children can keep Christ in Christmas.
History of Mistletoe:
- Mistletoe was used by Druid priests in their winter celebrations 200 years before the birth of Christ . They revered the plant because it remained green during the cold months of winter.
- The ancient Celtics believed mistletoe to have magical healing powers and used it as an antidote for poison, infertility, and to ward off evil spirits.
- The plant was also seen as a symbol of peace, and it is said that among Romans, enemies who met under mistletoe would lay down their weapons and embrace.
- Scandinavians associated the plant with Frigga, their goddess of love, and it may be from this that we derive the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. Those who kissed under the mistletoe had the promise of happiness and good luck in the following year.
So how do we transform this to make it a reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ?
First of all, since mistletoe was a symbol of peace in ancient days, it should remind us of the Prince of Peace who was born at Christmas.
Secondly, mistletoe today is the place for a kiss. A kiss has been used in various ways through history:
- Among the Arabs, the women and children kiss the beards of their husbands or fathers. The husband or father returns their salute by a kiss on the forehead.
- In Egypt, an inferior kisses the hand of a superior, generally on the back, but sometimes, as a special favor, on the palm also.
- To testify abject submission, and in asking favors, the feet are often kissed instead of the hand.
- In Scripture, we have the kiss of Judas as he betrayed Jesus in the garden.
- Also in Scrpture is the penitent woman who kissed the feet of Jesus.
- And there was the greeting given in the early church of a ‘holy kiss’.
This Christmas when you see the mistletoe, think about two verses of scripture:
Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. That is, embrace the Son; depend upon Him in all your ways as your Sovereign. To make peace with the Father, kiss the Son.
Song 1:2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth–for your love is better than wine. The Divine kiss is a metaphor of intimacy with Jesus and the ‘kisses of his mouth’ refers to the ‘words of Jesus’ which is the Word of God.
Let the mistletoe remind you that God is pursuing an intimate relationship with you that is developed as we embrace the Word of God! This is why Jesus was born!
Also be reminded to greet others with love:
1 Peter 5:14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
