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Yule is the day of the winter solstice, and the longest night. This festival falls close to Christmas. As the Christians converted the Pagans, they adopted many of the country dwellers’ traditions to ease the acceptance of Christianity. The Celtic and Germanic/Nordic traditions are the biggest influence of Pagan plants on Christmas traditions.

Holly – Holly berries, cloaked in sharp green leaves, are at their brightest in winter. The Druids believed this plant to be sacred. It has been associated with winter magic and believed to repel evil. The Celts of the British Isles and Gaul believed the Holly King ruled over winter and death.In Scandinavian mythology, the holly belonged to Thor & Freya. The plant’s association with Thor’s lightning meant it could protect people from being struck by his bolts. The Norse and Celts would plant a holly tree near their homes to ward off lightning strikes.

Ivy – Ivy is an evergreen vine symbolizing immortality. It had been a symbol of eternal life in many pagan religions, including Druidism. The Christians who converted these Pagans embraced it as a symbol for the new promise of eternal life and Jesus’ everlasting one.

Mistletoe – Mistletoe is another plant that is sacred to the Celts and the Germanic/Norse. They believed the plant enhanced fertility because it stayed green in the winter.
The Druids believed the mistletoe’s magical properties extended beyond fertility. It was believed to cure almost any disease and was known as the all-healer. Sprigs fixed above doorways of homes were said to keep away lightning and other types of evil. Mistletoe was placed in baby cradles to protect them from faeries.
The custom of kissing under the mistletoe came from Norse legend. Frigga (goddess of love and beauty) had a son, Baldur. She wanted nothing to harm him and went through the earth getting all that came from the four elements, fire, water, air and earth, so that he would be safe. The only thing she overlooked was mistletoe.
Loki (mischievous trickster god) wanted to hurt Baldur, so, knowing Frigga neglected to ask the mistletoe not to harm Balder, he made an arrow from its wood, then took it to Hoder, Baldur’s blind brother, guided his hand and shot the arrow into Baldur’s heart. The boy died.
All living creatures tried to bring Baldur back to life for three days to no avail. Finally Frigga managed to revive her son with the help of the mistletoe. Her tears on the plant became white berries and she blessed the plant. Anyone who stands under the mistletoe plant would never be hurt and was entitled to a kiss, a token of love

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