(This article was written in anticipation of the festivities. It is felt that, while the wording could be changed to the past tense, it is more honest to leave it as it is.)
National Mistletoe Day
Thursday 1 December 2005
On the new moon of Thursday 1 December 2005, it is National Mistletoe Day. And in celebration, the small town of Tenbury, on the Worcester / Herefordshire border, will put itself on the map by declaring itself the central focus of all mistletoe in the sacred lands of Britain, for indeed it hosts the biggest market of mistletoe in the country.
Check this link for more information on Tenbury.
Attended by three cross-party MPs, the town will deck itself with the sacred herb. Shops in Tenbury will be laden with mistletoe and banners. At 3 pm, a Mistletoe Queen and a Holly King will be crowned by a Queen Victoria lookalike (?!) and paraded through the town on a horsedrawn cart to the accompaniment of a band. Sadly Queen Vic has usurped the Druids and no Druid presence is officially planned for this date (as yet), but it sounds like being a magical day. To conclude the night as only English eccentrics know how, wait for it...a skiffle band at the Royal Oak.
The Festival Continues
Saturday 3 - Sunday 4 December
A Mistletoe Arts and Crafts Exhibition begins at 3 pm, at the Pumps, Tenbury: with talks by the incredibly knowledgable Jonathan Briggs, Stan Yapp a local grower and enthusiast (someone useful to know), and a performance by Stefan Allen of the Mistletoe Foundation and the Druid Albion Conclave, featuring music, song, story. Stefan will be a Druid's voice on mistletoe, its relevance ancient and modern. More guest speakers will be announced. A band is also to be confirmed for Saturday evening at the Regal.
Sunday will see the Exhibition and the talks continue from 10 am, along with events at the local High School, including a Mistletoe V Holly football match and a mini mistletoe marathon - again, this is rural English folklore and eccentricity at its very best.
The Blessing of the Mistletoe
Tuesday 6 December
As if by decree of the gods themselves, this week long event will cover the 6th day of the new moon which falls this year on Tuesday 6 December. Jonathan Briggs is hoping to secure a quota of the mistletoe for sale at the market that has not touched the ground. A blessing ceremony will be held at the market for the mistletoe.
As this sacred plant sets out on its journey to homes all across the UK for the festive season, we see the Mistletoe Foundation grow into a new and exciting phase. It is also exciting to realise Tenbury pays honour to our tradition. By providing Druidry with the opportunity to show a very public face to society, we keep it real.
Come to the Blessing ...
The Blessing of the Mistletoe on the 6th day of the new moon at Tenbury Mistletoe Market is a great honour for the Mistletoe Foundation. We heartily encourages Druids of all backgrounds to join in this unique event, to bless the mistletoe and to obtain your own that has yet to touch the ground. The mistletoe will have been cut by the local gypsies, as it has been for many years.
So far, Bobcat and Stefan Allen have committed to attend this rite, but it is hoped many more will follow, providing an eloquent and magical voice for Druidry that the general public can hear, witness and relate too. Being amongst so much mistletoe will, I feel sure, provide a remarkable experience ...
If you would like to be a part of the rite, let us know. Email : mistletoe [at] druidnetwork [dot] org
