Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1918 — Kiss Under the Mistletoe. [ARTICLE]

Kiss Under the Mistletoe.

The mistletoe was held in great reverence by the Druids. It was believed to be particularly and divinely healing; In fact, It was given this attribute for ceuturies. It had special significance as the cause of the death of Balder, the Norse Apollo, who was killed by an arrow made from it? branches. Subsequently Balder was restored to life, the mistletoe tree was. placed tinier the care of Frigga, and from that time until It touched the earth was never again to be an instrument of evil. The present custom of kissing under the mistletoe is the outcome of an old practice of the Druids. Persons of opposite sexes passed under the suspended vine and gave each other the kiss of love and peace, in full assurance that, though it had caused Balder’s death, it had lost all its power of doing harm since his restoration.