Show Mistletoe Kiss t Began as Myth Practice Symbolized Expulsion of Evil The origin of the yuletide custom of kissing under the mistletoe is shrouded with some uncertainty but it is believed that the original practice was symbolical of assurance assurance assurance assur assur- ance that never again would the mistletoe be used as an instrument of evil as it was in Scandinavian mythology The Norsemen believed that thai Balder the god who personified the sun was disliked by Loki god of mischief According to the legend legend leg leg- end Loki planned to destroy Balder Bald Bald- er but Frigga Balders Balder's mother obtained a promise from all living things that they would not harm Balder But she forgot to extract such a promise from the toe Knowing this Loki made an arrow arrow arrow ar ar- ar- ar row from the mistletoe and gave it to Balders Balder's blind brother Hoder r rand and told him how to use it The occasion was a demonstration that tha all things so loved Balder that tha nothing could harm him Hoder Hader did du not know the mistletoe would prove a lethal weapon The arrow killed Balder Frigga was desolate but won a promise from Odin chief of all the gods that if it every living thing would weep for Balder he would be re restored restored restored re- re stored to life Frigga had everyone weep for Balder but Loki Disguised Disguised Disguised Dis Dis- guised as an old witch he declined to weep As a result Odin permitted Balder Bald Bald- er six months of life and six months of death which explained the summer summer summer sum sum- mer and winter seasons to the old Norsemen Frigga was was given care of the mistletoe so it would never again bring sorrow I |