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fifteentli century ; but allusion to Mistletoe as a Christmas ever- 

 green can scarcely be found for two centuries later, or before the 

 time of Ilerrick : — 



" Down with the rosemary, and so, 

 Down with the baies and mistletoe ; 

 Down with the holly, ivie, all, 

 Wherewith ye dressed the Christmas Hall." 



Coles in his "Knowledge of Plants," (1656), says of Mis- 

 tletoe : " It is carried many miles to set up in houses about 

 Christmas time, when it is adorned with a white glistening berry," 

 and in the tract "Round about our Coal fire, or Christmas Enter- 

 tainments," published early in the last century, it is said "the 

 rooms were embowered with holly, ivy, cypress, bays, laurel, and 

 mistletoe ; and a bouncing Christmas log in the chimney." 



"Kissing a fair one under the Mistletoe," says Times, "and 

 wishing her a happy new year, as you present her with one of 

 the berries for luck, is the Christmas custom of our times ; and 

 in some places persons try lots for the bough with most berries, 

 by the crackling of leaves and berries in the fire :" — this conclu- 

 sion is certainly inconsistent, and tends itself to prove the new- 

 year character of the Mistletoe. 



Gat's description has already been given, and many more 

 might be added to shew it a Christmas evergreen in later times, 

 but it is unnecessary, since they are chiefly written by authors 

 who Avere not accjuainted with Mistletoe lore. They lived beyond 

 the range of true Mistletoe customs ; where the plant did not 

 grow naturally, or only very sparingly ; and where, consequent- 

 ly, there were no traditions existing amongst the common people 

 with reference to it. 



The old new-year's-day custom, indeed, is rapidly chang- 

 ing, — even here, in the very centre of the Mistletoe district — 

 and where, as I have shown, its traditions endure so tenaciously. 

 Partly from lapse of time, perhaps, but chiefly from change of 

 inhabitants, the Mistletoe is changing its character as a symbol 

 of new-year's-day, to take its place with the holly, as an emblem 

 of the festivities of Christmas 



