In ancient beliefs mistletoe was credited with life-giving powers and was highly respected and even worshiped.Green branches signified the victory of light over darkness, day over night, life over death.The custom of hanging mistletoe for good luck is still alive today. It is also believed that a kiss under the mistletoe will ensure a successful marriage. Mistletoe, next to poinsettias, is a plant that gives an interior a festive character during the Christmas period.
What does mistletoe mean in the house?Certainly the suspension of mistletoe suggests that the householders are superstitious and do not want to tempt fate. Thanks to it, they want to maintain abundance, prosperity and find or keep love among the inhabitants.When to take off the mistletoe?Mistletoe should be dried and kept all year round, until the next Christmas Eve. Then you can take it off, burn it and hang up fresh twigs. If you do not want to keep mistletoe until the next holiday, you can burn it after the Epiphany Feast, usually called Epiphany (January 6). However, according to tradition, it cannot be done earlier. Otherwise, people who kiss under the mistletoe will become lifelong enemies.
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What is mistletoe?
From the botanical point of view, the mistletoe Vuscum the album is a semi-parasite that grows massively, especially poplars, although it can also be found on birches, maples and even pines.Mistletoe draws water from the host plant through special nozzles, and at the same time is capable of photosynthesis, i.e. it produces organic compounds necessary for life. It lives for several dozen years, in principle it is not burdensome for the tree, although in the event of a mass occurrence it may weaken the host.Many people think about how to get rid of mistletoe from the treeMost often it is enough to remove specific branches of the tree infested with mistletoe in young trees. This method is especially recommended as it does not remove the entire tree, nor does it change the appearance of the tree's crown. In older trees, pay attention to the degree of spread of the mistletoe suckers. Then you have to cut even a larger fragment of the tree crown.
What does mistletoe look like?
Mistletoe is a dicotyledonous, dicotyledonous shrub of the Gęsewnik family with white or light yellow fruits. The seeds are found in pseudo-berries that ripen in winter and are the delicacy of many birds, especially the waxwing.They are also not scorned by thrushes. Mistletoe and its reproduction is also an interesting thread.It is the birds that spread the seeds - on the beak, feathers (because the fruit juice is sticky) or in the droppings.Mistletoe blooms from February to April. In addition, mistletoe has cold-resistant dark green leaves. Roots are known as cortical suction strands that take up the minerals needed for growth from the host.
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Is mistletoe under protection?Mistletoe is a common plant in Poland and is not protected. However, it should be remembered that it is sometimes protected in whole protected areas. These are, for example, national parks, nature reserves, landscape parks and protected landscape areas. A valuable clue may be the information that mistletoe is legally protected in northern Europe.
Mistletoe-healing properties
The question often arises whether mistletoe is poisonous?The mistletoe contained in the fruit of the mistletoe is poisonous to humans and can cause diarrhea and vomiting.It is worth knowing that mistletoe fruits are especially dangerous for cats. If a cat accidentally eats fruit, they may develop difficulty breathing, a rash in the mouth, or diarrhea.
The processed herb, on the other hand, is used to make medicines and cosmetics. Mistletoe is valued for its relaxing, sedative and diuretic properties. It is also used to lower blood pressure. Mistletoe is used in menstrual disorders, atherosclerosis and abnormal heart rhythm. Are you wondering how to apply mistletoe? Most often it is made into an infusion or decoction.
