This review was taken, pictures and text, from the Mistletoe Blog of Jonathan Briggs with his kind permission. You can read his interesting blog here.
Druids and Mistletoe
Tuesday 5th - and this year's Druidic mistletoe blessing. As before, Druids of the Mistletoe Foundation, plus local Druid groups, are attending the mistletoe auctions, before they begin, to bless the stock.
We have a better turn-out than last year, despite the early start on a cold morning. Some have been travelling since 3.00am. With the changed layout of the market stock I've had to move the location a bit (all sussed out yesterday aft
ernoon) and we're setting up the tripod, with mistletoe (that hasn't touched the ground) between the Christmas trees and the mistletoe. It's a bit muddy underfoot, but druids don't mind that.
My pewter mistletoe beaker (see previous blogs) is pressed into service as a Mistletoe Chalice, and used during the main ceremony. River Teme water, to be sprinkled on the mistletoe auction stock afterwards, has to be stored in a more utilitarian vessel - a plastic water bottle in the centre of the circle.
Everything goes well, and is only slightly compromised by a Christian preacher from Droitwich, who's turned up to tell the druids the error of their ways. A nice enough chap, apart from his cheek in comin
g along, but he's wasting his time here - not many people here, druid or not druid, have any time for the missionary approach, from whatever religion. And the druids were invited, he wasn't. But he believes in his work, and is unlikely to be put off.
Later on the Druids run a story-telling and musical workshop, in the Old Fire Station building adjoining the Auction Yard.
Thanks to Jonathan for his permission to reprint, and for his excellent Mistletoe sites - see the links page.
