Mistletoe, which grows on oaks, a tree sacred to the Celts, is a symbol of eternal life. Cut by a druid in a ritual ceremony, great bunches of mistletoe were hung in doorways in Brittany (France) at the winter solstice to ensure good fortune for their homes. There are overlaps between celebrations of the winter solstice, Yule, Saturnalia and Christmas. When Christianity began to spread it made sense for the early Christians to place Christ’s birth at the same time as the solstice. Linking the birth of God’s son with the annual birth of the celestial sun held a strong appeal for both Christians and non-Christians in the common metaphor of the birth of Light.

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Source: Ancient Celtic Festivals by Leslie and Gerace

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