DAYS OF THE EVERGREEN 



267 



decoration of our homes and churches with evergreens at 

 Christmas was handed on from the old pagan rejoicings at 

 the winter solstice, when the sun began to rise from his long 

 descent, and the evergreen leaves were used to symbolise 

 his unconquered vitality. But while the holly was retained 

 without offence as a token of the same message of hope in 

 the Christian festival which superseded the pagan feast, 



MISTLETOE 



mistletoe was specially associated with the evil features of 

 Druid rites. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe 

 is the last reflection of the savage orgy which accompanied 

 the midwinter feast of Druid sun-worship. 



Mistletoe and not holly or any other evergreen was no 

 doubt given a special prominence in the rites of England in 

 old days, because of its singular parasitic growth. It is the 

 most conspicuous of all such evergreen symbols of natural 

 vitality, gleaming as it does on the bare winter boughs. In 

 Germany, where it is surrounded with none of our own 



