22nd December: Night of Mistletoe

The Night of Mistletoe was a Celtic Druid holy day. Here are 10 things you might not know about mistletoe.

1. The name of the plant doesn't have a romantic origin. "Mistal" is an old Anglo-Saxon word for dung, and the "toe" part comes from "tan", meaning twig, so basically the word means "dung on a twig".
2. It's a parasite. Its seeds are covered in a sticky substance which attached to the beaks and feathers of the birds which eat them. The bird flies to another tree and wipes its beak on a branch, and the seed then sticks to the branch and germinates. This is not good news for the tree, which is likely to die earlier as a result of being infested with mistletoe. That said, mistletoe has an important place in nature. It provides food for a range of birds and animals (but not humans, as the berries are toxic to us), and a nesting spot for some species of bird and Squirrel. Dead trees provide nesting spots to still more species of bird.
3. There are 1,300 species of mistletoe in the world, 20 of which are endangered.
4. Although we tend to associate it with winter, most mistletoe species grow in tropical or sub-tropical areas.
5. Another name for mistletoe is "witches broom".
6. The mistletoe plant has no scent, so "mistletoe scented" candles or air fresheners are a con.
7. Why do people Kiss under the mistletoe? Nobody is really sure, but there are theories. In Norse mythology, an arrow made of mistletoe was the only thing that could kill Balder, the son of Odin and Frigg. When he was killed in this way, Frigg brought him back to life and it was she who commanded that people kiss under mistletoe as a reminder that love is stronger than death. There was a custom in ancient times that if two enemies met by chance in a forest under a ball of mistletoe, they would not attack each other but would call a truce until the next day, so kissing under it is a sign of friendship and goodwill. It's also associated with fertility.
8. Although the berries are toxic to us, dilute tea made from mistletoe was said to cure leprosy, epilepsy, worms, high blood pressure and even cancer. Don't try it at home, though! Mistletoe is also said to protect from fire and Lightning, and hanging it over a doorway stops ghosts and witches from entering the house.
9. Mistletoe grows mainly on Apple trees, but very occasionally it will grow on an Oak Tree. Because this is relatively rare, oak mistletoe was sacred to ancient Druids. They believed the berries were the sperm of the gods (hence the connection with fertility). They had a special ceremony for harvesting it which involved the chief Druid climbing the tree and cutting the mistletoe down with a golden scythe. Other Druids would catch it in a cloth. Then they would sacrifice two bulls. The ceremony still takes place in parts of England, although modern Druids have done away with the sacrifice bit.
10. Even today, mistletoe is banned from Christmas decorations in churches because of its association with Druids and pagan magic.

My Christmas Novella!

A Very Variant Christmas

Last year, Jade and Gloria were embroiled in a bitter conflict to win back their throne and their ancestral home. This year, Queen Jade and Princess Gloria want to host the biggest and best Christmas party ever in their palace. They invite all their friends to come and bring guests. Not even the birth of Jade's heir just before Christmas will stop them.

The guest list includes most of Britain's complement of super-powered crime-fighters, their families and friends. What could possibly go wrong?

Gatecrashers, unexpected arrivals, exploding Christmas crackers and a kidnapping, for starters.

Far away in space, the Constellations, a cosmic peacekeeping force, have suffered a tragic loss. They need to recruit a new member to replace their dead colleague. The two top candidates are both at Jade and Gloria's party. The arrival of the recruitment delegation on Christmas Eve is a surprise for everyone; but their visit means one guest now faces a life-changing decision.

Meanwhile, an alliance of the enemies of various guests at the party has infiltrated the palace; they hide in the dungeon, plotting how best to get rid of the crime-fighters and the royal family once and for all. Problem is, they all have their own agendas and differences of opinion on how to achieve their aims.

Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.

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