Yule & Christmas superstitions

[tufftie]

Yule- Yule logs were thought to be protection against thunder and lightning. Yule logs were often left to smolder for a year (to provide fertile crops) and a piece of this log was cut and put on the home fire if a thunder storm was due.

Christmas - A bit late for this one now but...when making a Christmas pudding everyone in the house was meant to stir it three times and make a wish.

[naturelover]

make a wish and add a silver thepeny bit.

[ron1863]

Yule logs shouldn't be bought and should be left to burn overnight.

The yule log should be lit by a piece of the log used on the previous Christmas. Once that is done, no evil spirit can then enter into the house. The remains of the Yule log were also considered lucky, and would be a protection against lightning or fire.

Look to the shadows cast by those gathered round the fire on Christmas night - if any of these shades appears to lack a head that person will die within the year.

When making Christmas pudding, drop in a silver coin, a thimble, and a ring. He who is served the coin finds luck, he who retrieves the thimble brings himself prosperity, and he who comes up with the ring hastens a wedding in his family.

A Christmas candle left burning in the window all night guarantees the household's good luck in the coming year. If the candles goes out, it is bad luck.

[Jez]

Apparantly theres folk lore superstitions with regards to Mistletoe besides the Kissing larky. Anyone know of these?

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by Jez

Apparantly theres folk lore superstitions with regards to Mistletoe besides the Kissing larky. Anyone know of these?

Just a few that I was aware of.

Mistletoe has fruit at the time of the Winter Solstice and probaly used in solstice rituals by Druids in Britain.

It is said that Mistletoe was cut with a gold sickle and it lost its power if it fell and touched the ground.

Mistletoe must not touch the ground between its cutting and its removal as the last of Christmas Mistletoe might remain hung through the year, often to preserve the house from lightning or fire, until it was replaced the following Christmas Eve.

Apparently the 'kissing larky' is a particular English tradition possible dating back to Celtic times. As the fruits of Mistletoe were regarded as a fertility symbol.

Paul

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by paulchandler6

.............. is a particular English tradition possible dating back to Celtic times. As the fruits of Mistletoe were regarded as a fertility symbol.
Paul

Call me pedantic but how can an 'English' (i.e. Anglo-Saxon) tradition date 'back to Celtic times'? It's either Celtic or English, surely?

[Paul mabbott]

Yule never believe that - how could anyone keep a log smouldering for a year?
How would anyone know when a thunderstorm was due (the Met Office struggles with that nowadays! )
What balderdash and piffle!

Originally Posted by tufftie

Yule- Yule logs were thought to be protection against thunder and lightning. Yule logs were often left to smolder for a year (to provide fertile crops) and a piece of this log was cut and put on the home fire if a thunder storm was due.

[tufftie]

If it helps most superstitions about mistletoe seem to come from Pliny the Elder. Kissing under mistletoe is purely an english thing and err yes to do with fertility!

[Paul mabbott]

I think Pliny only wrote down what was common knowledge or practise and, as you say, the mistletoe simply became an excuse many year before!

Next question: what is the relationship between mistletoe and mistle thrush?

Originally Posted by tufftie

If it helps most superstitions about mistletoe seem to come from Pliny the Elder. Kissing under mistletoe is purely an english thing and err yes to do with fertility!

[tufftie]

Is this a trick question?! Quite simply I haven't a clue

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Call me pedantic but how can an 'English' (i.e. Anglo-Saxon) tradition date 'back to Celtic times'? It's either Celtic or English, surely?

Mistletoe was a Celtic fertility symbol and the kissing larky was apparently a British (not English, sorry) tradition not known in Europe.
Whether the Celts kissed under Mistletoe I do not know.

But, hey we are talking myths and supestitions here not necessarily facts.

Paul

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by tufftie

Is this a trick question?! Quite simply I haven't a clue

No, I don't do 'trick questions' - I'd only confuse myself - just interested to know .....

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Next question: what is the relationship between mistletoe and mistle thrush?

The Mistle Thrush is apparently the bird that most frequently spreads the Mistletoe seed.

Paul

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by paulchandler6

Whether the Celts kissed under Mistletoe I do not know.
But, hey we are talking myths and supestitions here not necessarily facts.
Paul

I'm sure they did .......... and under anything else in my experience ...

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

No, I don't do 'trick questions' - I'd only confuse myself - just interested to know .....

That's good because i'm being slow on the uptake all round today! Have loads of books on myths and things will have a look throught hem tomorrow and see what i can find

[tufftie]

hi Paul,

The fact that the mistle thrush spreads it around was the only thing I could find. This was the best I could do for you - It was first noted by a curator of the Chelsea Physic Garden ''He also discovered that simply smearing the sticky seeds onto a suitable tree was sufficient to establish it; this, after all, was how the eponymous mistle thrush spread the plant about: 'for the viscous part of the berry, which immediately surrounds the seed, doth sometimes fasten to the outward part of the birds beak; which to get disengaged of, he strikes his beak against the branches of a neighbouring tree, and thereby leaves the seed sticking by this viscous matter to the bark; which, if it light upon a smooth part of the tree, will fasten itself thereto, and the following winter will put out and grow'' Flora Britannica; Richard Mabey.