This is third in a series of 12 posts on historical Christmas traditions. I didn’t note my sources, but please trust I did verify the information.
We can thank the Celts this one, who revered mistletoe for its healing and fertility properties and believed it could bring luck and ward off evil. It grows at the top of many trees, including the Celts’ beloved apple and sacred oak. (It also is a symbol of peace and could be used to broker a truce during war.)
Some say the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe began with the Greeks, who also held it sacred, while others say we do it because the Norse associated it with love and friendship (it was sacred to the goddess Freya). I’ve also seen claims that the tradition really dates to the Victorian era and was once believed to be a promise of marriage.
This is second in a series of 12 posts on historical Christmas traditions. I didn’t note my sources, but please trust I did verify the information.
About the time Jesus was born, the Romans were big into worshiping a god named Mithras in a highly elaborate cult. Mithras began as a Persian Zoroastrian god of oaths, but was assimilated by the Romans because of his popularity with soldiers. Some researchers suggest he may have been the god of choice of a pagan, Romano-Celtic King Arthur. Like Jesus, Mithras was said to have been born on December 25 and was as a reconciler between the forces of good and evil who was buried in a tomb and rose from the dead after three days. Like the Celtic gods celebrated at Yule, he was a child of the sun. Sources differ over whether or not Mithras became ever human like Jesus (and some Greek gods) did. Mithraism is sometimes viewed as a rival of early Christianity.
Have you ever heard of Mithras?
I hadn’t until I started researching what religion a pagan Arthur might have followed, and boom, there you go.
No, this isn't my house, but I wish I would have thought to do this!
On the first day of Christmas the writing gods gave to me…
A Xanex for a panic attack.
On the second day of Christmas the writing gods gave to me…
2 beta readers
and a Xanex for a panic attack.
On the third day of Christmas the writing gods gave to me…
3 red pens,
2 beta readers,
and a Xanex for a panic attack.
On the fourth day of Christmas the writing gods gave to me…
4 query letters,
3 red pens,
2 beta readers,
and a Xanex for a panic attack.
On the fifth day of Christmas the writing gods gave to me…
5 inspirations!
4 query letters,
3 red pens,
2 beta readers,
and a Xanex for a panic attack.
On the sixth day of Christmas the writing gods gave to me…
6 agents reading,
5 inspirations!
4 query letters,
3 red pens,
2 beta readers,
and a Xanex for a panic attack.
On the seventh day of Christmas the writing gods gave to me…
7 keys a-clacking,
6 agents reading,
5 inspirations!
4 query letters,
3 red pens,
2 beta readers,
and a Xanex for a panic attack.
On the eighth day of Christmas the writing gods gave to me…
8 bloggers blogging,
7 keys a-clacking,
6 agents reading,
5 inspirations!
4 query letters,
3 red pens,
2 beta readers,
and a Xanex for a panic attack.
On the ninth day of Christmas the writing gods gave to me…
9 muses musing,
8 bloggers blogging,
7 keys a-clacking,
6 agents reading,
5 inspirations!
4 query letters,
3 red pens,
2 beta readers,
and a Xanex for a panic attack.
On the tenth day of Christmas the writing gods gave to me…
10 nerves a-fraying,
9 muses musing,
8 bloggers blogging,
7 keys a-clacking,
6 agents reading,
5 inspirations!
4 query letters,
3 red pens,
2 beta readers,
and a Xanex for a panic attack.
On the eleventh day of Christmas the writing gods gave to me…
11 words of wisdom,
10 nerves a-fraying,
9 muses musing,
8 bloggers blogging,
7 keys a-clacking,
6 agents reading,
5 inspirations!
4 query letters,
3 red pens,
2 beta readers,
and a Xanex for a panic attack.
On the twelfth day of Christmas the writing gods gave to me…
12 villains plotting,
11 words of wisdom,
10 nerves a-fraying,
9 muses musing,
8 bloggers blogging,
7 keys a-clacking,
6 agents reading,
5 inspirations!
4 query letters,
3 red pens,
2 beta readers,
and a Xanex for a panic attack.
I hope you enjoyed reading that as much as I did creating it. (Any resemblance to any other versions is purely coincidental; no artistic infringement is intended.) Who knows, with a little luck next year at this time I’ll be giving you the “Published Writers’s 12 Days of Christmas!”
This is my last blog post of the year (well, unless I think of something that can’t wait), so Merry whatever-you-celebrate and Happy New Year! I’ll be back next year with a whole new set of posts on the Celtic world, other Arthurian characters, the Isle of Avalon, a special book review and much more! Please tell me what you want to read about – I take requests!
