Art of the Day: Druids Cutting the Mistletoe on the Sixth Day of the Moon
By Artist, Henri-Paul Motte with Mistletoe Lore
The painting “Druids Cutting the Mistletoe on the Sixth Day of the Moon” by Artist Henri-Paul Motte caught my eye given that Christmas is a mere four days away. I don’t know about you, but I am not at all prepared for Christmas Day. I still have gift and Christmas dinner shopping to do.
Mistletoe is oft hung so that one might attract and solicit a kiss from a loved one or an admirer. It is said if you kiss your love beneath mistletoe, you’ll stay in love.1
Mistletoe was revered by the ancient Druids and was typically found growing on an oak, or perhaps apple or poplar trees. The druids would cut the mistletoe with a golden sickle and take pains to make sure it would not touch the ground.
The druids used mistletoe for many other reasons, it was also used for protection, luck, prosperity, to heal disease, to ward of disease when worn as a ring, and if placed in a cradle it would protect babies form being stolen by fairies and turned into changelings.2
Henri-Paul Motte was a French artist born in Paris in 1846, died in Paris in 1922. He was know for work in the historical genre.3
Back in the 80’s and 90’s when I worked as a floral designer and had my own shop for a few years, mistletoe was often packaged in small boxes and sold in flower shops. I think it is a little harder to find mistletoe for sale now during Christmas season.
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Related Post:
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham, Twenty-second Printing 1997. Page 154 - 155.
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham, Twenty-second Printing 1997. Page 154 - 155.
I loved reading about all the different meanings of Mistletoe! Thanks for sharing!
ohhh nice painting!