Tennyson. 
Mistletoe. 
(GIVE ME A KISS.) 
“ The sacred bush.” 
T HE Mistletoe is too well known to need any description 
of its botanical properties, whilst the important part 
which it plays in Christmas festivities scarcely requires more 
than a passing' allusion : every one is acquainted with that 
remarkable custom which permits any lad to exact from any 
lass the toll of one kiss, when they accidentally meet where 
“ Sacred ceilings, dark and grey, 
Bear the mistletoe. ” 
The singular practice associated with “the sacred bush” is 
evidently a relic of some very ancient custom ; indeed, from the 
earliest ages, wonderful properties have been ascribed to this 
parasitical plant, but it was from Druidic uses that it acquired 
its principal sanctity. By the ancient inhabitants of this island 
the mistletoe was held in great veneration, particularly when 
it grew upon the oak, that—in the eyes of the Druids—most 
sacred of all trees. As this parasite, however, is not often 
found upon the oak, it is presumed that our ancient priests 
were accustomed to plant it there by inserting the seed. At 
the beginning of their year the Druids went in solemn pro¬ 
cession into the woods in order to seek for mistletoe, and 
whenever they discovered any, announced the fact by joyous 
shouts. A grass altar was then erected beneath the tree, and 
inscribed with such divine titles as they deemed most powerful. 
On the sixth day of the moon, the head Druid, clad in a white 
garment, ascended the tree, and, in the sight of the multitude, 
by means of a consecrated golden sickle, cut off the mistletoe 
and dropped it into a pure white cloth which the assistant 
priests held beneath. Two white bulls, or, upon the most 
important occasions, human beings, were sacrificed, and the 
Deity invoked to bless the plant, which was finally dipped 
in water, blessed by the principal priest, and distributed 
amongst the populace, as a preservative against witchcraft 
and diseases. If any portion of the plant came in contact with 
