Case Study 2 Mistletoe, Mistletoebirds, Butterflies and Ants
mistletoe
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Transcript of mistletoe
mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemi-parasitic plants in several families in the order Santalales. The plants in question grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub.Culture folklore and mythology:
In cultures across pre-Christian Europe, mistletoe was seen as a representation of divine male essence (and thus romance, fertility and vitality), possibly due to a resemblance between the berries and semen.
Mistletoe is commonly used as aChristmasdecoration, though such use was rarely alluded to until the 18th century.According to ancient Christmas custom, a man and a woman who meet under a hanging of mistletoe were obliged to kiss.
The custom may be ofScandinavianorigin.It was described in 1820 by American authorWashington Irvingin his "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon":"The mistletoe is still hung up in farm-houses and kitchens at Christmas, and the young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under it, plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked the privilege ceases.
mistletoe is the new word I have never seen.
According to it superstition I will believe.
Maybe I can do this in Christmas day.