domenica 17 dicembre 2017

For a Victorian Christmas ~ Make Your Own Victorian Mistletoe Ball.


It is precisely during the Victorian Age that spreads in England the tradition to exchange a kiss underneath the mistletoe at midnight of Christmas Eve, even if this custom draws its origins from the Celtic world and its legends (in Italy we have made this tradition our own, but we have moved it to the night separating the old year from the new one).

That of the mistletoe harvest was another typically Victorian rite: it is not easy to find here this plant that grows very willingly, however, in the woods of the English countryside as a parasite of several trees, and it was a labor of patience that was often reserved to children;


The Mistletoe Gatherer, Sir John Everett Millais (1829 - 1896)




its berries, very clear and vitreous, almost transparent, are much loved by birds but very poisonous for us ... so, if you think about it, it's really strange that a plant that has such ... negative characteristics has become a symbol of good luck, so much so that during the holidays, even when a person was welcomed at home, the  hostess held him/her her hand just under the mistletoe.

It should be remembered that the decoration made of mistletoe and to hang from a ceiling beam became traditional first amongst the lower classes, then it became customary for the servants to hang it in their hall to become finally part of the traditions of even the most wealthy families.

But let's watch our video that teaches us how to make this last, typical Victorian decoration made with the branches of this beautiful plant to hang to the ceiling or the chandelier of the room in which we celebrate Christmas, wether there isn't the table under it, although perhaps the most suitable room of the house is the entrance hall.




And after watching this last video together, ~ My little old world ~ hopes to have helped you surrounding yourself with the typical atmosphere of the most traditional Christmas ever and that the warmth of the tradition contributes to heat up your hearts on the occasion of the most beautiful Holiday of the year.

I'm waiting for you just a little before Christmas for a very last post, beloved readers and friends,

see you soon 💕










~ PER UN NATALE VITTORIANO ~ 
COME COMPORRE LA DECORAZIONE FATTA CON IL VISCHIO DA APPENDERE AL SOFFITTO. 


E' proprio durate il periodo vittoriano che in Inghilterra si diffonde la tradizione di scambiarsi un bacio sotto il vischio allo scoccare della mezzanotte la notte della Vigilia di Natale, anche se tale usanza trae le proprie origini dal mondo celtico e dalle sue leggende (in Italia abbiamo fatta nostro questo costume, ma l'abbiamo spostato alla notte che separa l'anno vecchio da quello nuovo).

Quello della raccolta del vischio era un altro rito tipicamente vittoriano: non è facile da trovare qui da noi questa pianta che cresce molto volentieri, invece, nei boschi delle campagne inglesi quale parassita di svariati alberi, ed era un lavoro di pazienza che spesso veniva riservato ai fanciulli; 




- Immagine 1 - The Mistletoe Gatherer, Sir John Everett Millais (1829 - 1896)





Le sue bacche, chiarissime e vitree, quasi trasparenti, sono molto amate dagli uccelli ma velenosissime per noi ... per cui, a ben pensarci, è davvero strano che una pianta che annovera caratteristiche così ... negative sia divenuta simbolo di buon augurio, tanto che durante le feste, anche quando si accoglieva in casa una persona, le si porgeva la mano proprio sotto il vischio.

Va ricordato che la decorazione fatta di vischio da appendere ad un trave del soffitto diviene tradizionale prima presso i ceti più bassi, poi presso la servitù dei benestanti per passare infine a far parte delle tradizioni anche dei più facoltosi. 

Ma veniamo al nostro video che ci insegna come realizzare questa ultima, caratteristica decorazione vittoriana fatta con i rami di questa bellissima pianta da appendere o al soffitto o al lampadario della stanza in cui si celebra il Natale, se sotto di esso non vi è posto il tavolo, anche se forse il vano più adatto è la zona d'ingresso dell'abitazione.




- VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYgeXgD7LyU



E dopo aver visto insieme questo ultimo video ~ My little old world ~ si augura di avervi aiutati a circondarvi dell'atmosfera tipica del Natale più tradizionale e che il calore della tradizione contribuisca a scaldare i vostri cuori in occasione della festa più bella dell'anno.


Vi aspetto poco prima del Natale per un ultimissimo post, amati lettori ed amici,

a presto 💕






46 commenti:

  1. I didn't know the history of mistletoe. I learn so much here.

    Have a fabulous day, Dany. ♥

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Sandee
      wishing you too a wonderful day, today,
      and Christmas Holidays to come, sweet friend,
      sending all my love and blessings on your way ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  2. I love these videos - I put some on my facebook page too! Merry Christmas and your blog is always a delight!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Bernideen
      dearest friend of mine, your words filled my heatrt with the deepest joy ever, thank you, to me a delight is to welcome you here !

      May your Christmas be filled with many blessings
      ⊰♥⊱ sending my dearest love to you ⊰♥⊱

      Elimina
  3. Simply delightful, my friend. I so enjoyed this post :)

    I hope you and yours have a mosy beautiful Christmas. Much love and sweet hugs to you!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Stephanie
      I'm sincerely glad to read that you loved it, you mean so much to me, precious friend of mine !

      Wishing you and your family too a Christams Time
      filled with Peace, Love and Wonder ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  4. We used to take the family to a lovely Christmas display every year, and they had a mistletoe ball with a box that asked for a twenty-five cent donation to charity if you wanted to give your sweetheart a kiss there. My husband would always very solemnly put the quarter in the box, and we would give each other a kiss while our children laughed at us. Such nice memories.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Messymimi
      what a lovely tradition and memory, thank you for sharing it with us today, Dearie !

      May your Christmas sparkle with Gladness and Serenity,
      sending hugs and ever much love to you ♫♪☆❄☃❄☆♪♫

      Elimina
  5. i'm sorry it has been so long since i have visited dear Dany! i always love reading your posts -- they are so informative and special. and i loved seeing the video. wishing you the most merry christmas and many blessings in the new year! xo

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Michele
      Dearie, don't be worried, I also am so very busy lately and my time here is less more and more, alas !

      I reciprocate your good wishes,
      sending gratitude hugs on your way ۩۞۩

      Elimina
  6. I remember very clearly the first girl I ever kissed under the mistletoe - and a lovely memory it is too!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ David Gascoigne
      with your so nice words you never fail to put a smile on my face, my friend, blessed be !

      Wishing you and your wife a most lovely Christmas Time,
      filled with Peace and Love ☆:*•♥•*:☆

      Elimina
  7. History was not favorite subject, but the way you present it is nice. The best to you and family for a blessed New Year.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ LV
      blessed be, dearest friend of mine !

      Wishing you and your dear ones
      Beautiful Christmas Holidays and a New Year ahead,
      always thinking of you with much love ❥

      Elimina
  8. Lovely Victorian post, photos and video for the Christmas Holidays ~ thanks,

    Happy Week to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ carol l mckenna
      it is I who thank you, with all my heart and with so much joy, believe me, sweet friend !

      Sending blessings on your Christmas,
      may it be the Merriest you've ever lived ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  9. That Millais painting is so beautiful! I tend not to have real mistletoe in the house because I'm afraid its berries will fall -- and end up in Lizzie's mouth. But I think it's such a wonderful tradition!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Jeanie
      oh my word, pay attention, they're poisonous to cats too !

      Sending hugs and ever much love to you, Dearie,
      and Merry Christmas to you and your Richard ♡ஐ♡

      Elimina
  10. Bellissimo il video e tutto il resto!Amo il Natale vittoriano!Tante belle cose a te Daniela!Ciao,Rosetta

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Rosetta
      carissima, è sempre una grande gioia per me averti qui !

      Ti abbraccio forte augurandoti un Natale scintillante di Gioia, Pace, Serenità,
      grazie per aver trovato il tempo per venirmi a trovare ♥∗✿∗♥

      Elimina
  11. I love the little wire ball they made to hang the mistletoe from, I found a ball with glass beads on it that kind of looks like berries that are red with a red ribbon tied to the top and I hang that from the beam dividing our living room and dinning room and my hubby catches me under it and gives me kisses, so that is our little tradition we started, as I couldn't even find fake mistletoe. Thanks for sharing!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Conniecrafter
      I so love your own tradition, darling friend, and I love having you here, you always bring here your inner joy !

      May your Christmas be the Brightest ever,
      sending blessings of joy to you and your dear ones ♥♡♥

      Elimina
  12. Here I am Dany just stopping by to blow a hello kiss under the mistletoe! It is very hard to find here in Australia, whether you are posh or not! How interesting to read all about its history. I've had the music playing and I'm feeling very festive! Wishing you a lovely Christmas. Wren x

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Wandering Wren
      thank you for taking the time for stopping by and for commenting, it's always a delight to welcome you here !

      Wishing you too a Beautiful Christmas Time,
      sending my dearest hugs across the many miles ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  13. So interesting. Happy Holidays to you and yours, dear Dany.
    Amalia
    xo

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Amalia
      thank you, Dearie !

      May you Holidays too be filled with Love and Joy ༺♡❀♡༻

      Elimina
  14. Such a beautiful, and interesting post, dear Daniela! I love the painting, and the wonderful mistletoe ball they made. :-)
    Thank you so much for your very kind comment, and for following my blog as well. ♥
    Have a fabulous day! Big hugs!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Edith
      it's such a joy to me to follow your so lovely blog, new friend of mine, blessed be !

      Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas,
      sending all my love to you ⊰✽*✽⊱

      Elimina
  15. Hello my friend. Thank you for reminding us and telling the story of mistletoe. Such a shame that it is very hard come by in the Britsh countryside these days.

    Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Phil Shade
      Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too, dear friend, I'm so sorry to read that mistletoe has become a rarity even in the British woods, ... really a pity ... that's why here in Italy we con only buy it in the flower shops, but it's so, so expensive ... you cannot even imagine how much !!!

      Sending my dearets hugs to you,
      thank you for visiting ~ My little old world ~ today,
      you put me in such high spirits ツ

      Elimina
  16. It seems that so many customs start the other way around, with the rich being the ones to start the trends that eventually become tradition. Very interesting this one.

    Have a very Merry Christmas Daniela!
    Love, Andrea

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Andrea
      Dearest One, it's always such a delight to welcome you here !

      May your Christmas too be blessed with Joy and Wonder,
      thank you once again for your so wonderful thought ❥

      Elimina
  17. Liebe Dany,

    ja, die gute Mistel. Hierzulande wird sie auch Hexenkraut, Druidenfuß oder Donnerkraut genannt. Diese Bezeichnungen haben sich bis in die Neuzeit retten können und stammen noch aus dem Mittelalter. Miraculix braute daraus einen Zaubertrank der einem enorme Kräfte verlieh und in der Tat, die Mistel ist eine magische Pflanze. Sie kann den Blutdruck regulieren und soll auch eine antikarzinogene Wirkung besitzen. Nicht alles an ihr ist schlecht. Hier wachsen tausende auf den Bäumen. Jetzt wo die Bäume kahl sind sieht man sie sofort.
    Wann immer ich durch deine Tür gehe ist mir, als gehe ich durch eine Pforte in eine andere Welt. So beruhigend und geborgen hüllt die Musik einen ein. Es wird einem bewusst wie sehr man die guten, alten Dinge in unserer hektischen Welt vermisst. Es ist als begäbe man sich auf eine entschleunigte Zeitreise.
    Danke dafür, dass du uns dieses Zeitfenster öffnest.

    Wünsche dir und deinen Liebsten ein besinnliches, frohes Weihnachtsfest mit gutem Essen, gutem Wein und guten Gesprächen.

    Buon natale mia amica.
    Love and hugs from Barbara

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Liebe Barbara
      you're always so heartily welcome, Dearie, and your comment always add sometning interesting to my posts, I thank you from the bottom of my heart !

      Wishing you too a wonderful Christmas and a vary Happy New Year,
      thank you for you friendship,
      I cherish so much !
      ~ Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  18. Sometimes, I think I was born in the wrong era as I love that age. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Bettyl-NZ
      that 's what I also think, many, oh so many times, sweet friend of mine !

      Wishing you and your family too a most Wonderful Christmas,
      filled with Love and Peace ✻ღღ✻

      Elimina
  19. Thank you so very much, dear Dany.
    I wish you a blessed Christmas, and a bright and beautiful New Year.
    Sending you hugs from across the ocean.
    xo.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Lisa Gordon
      I reciprocate your good wishes with all my heart
      God bless !

      MUCH LOVE •♥✿ڿڰۣ✿♥•

      Elimina
  20. We Wish You a Merry♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Christmas ♥ ♥ ♥We Wish You A Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪
    And a Happy New Year!!!

    Wishing you a blessed Christmas dear Dany!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ riitta k
      wishing you too a wonderful Christmas, filled with many blessings, dearest friend of mine !

      Love and hugs to you ☆:*♥♡♥*:☆

      Elimina
  21. I've always loved the mistletoe ball! Thanks for sharing the origins and a tutorial for making our own. And thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! I hope that you and your family have a blessed and happy Christmas and best of New Years! xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Kathleen
      you must forgive this delay of mine, but I've just found this comment of yours amongst the spam files, I wonder why it finished there!!!

      Trusting you and your dear ones had a wonderul Christmas,
      I'm sending blessings on the New Year just begun,
      thank you Dearie for being such a lovely hostess ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  22. Risposte
    1. Louca por porcelana,
      Thank you!
      I wish for happiness to surround you and yours this Holiday Season.
      May you feel Love and Joy like never before •♥•╰☆╮•♥•

      Elimina
  23. Dear Dani, I hope you have a lovely Holiday Season, and this is such a charming post...love all the history. Smiles my friend and take some time find JOY! Sandi

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Sandi,
      your friendship is far precious to me and I just love your comments, you always seem to make my day a bit brighter, thank you!
      May the glow of Christmas candles brighten your day and your heart.
      Happy Holidays *•.¸♥♥¸.•**•.¸♥♥¸.•**•.¸♥♥¸.•*

      Elimina

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