"There was formerly in the neighbourhood of Errol, and not far from the Falcon stone, a vast oak of an unknown age, and upon which grew a profusion of mistletoe: many charms and legends were considered to be connected with the tree, and the duration of the family of Hay was said to be united with its existence. It was believed that a sprig of mistletoe cut on Allhallowmas Eve with a new dirk, and after surrounding the tree three times sunwise and pronouncing a certain spell, was a sure charm against all glamour or witchery, and an infallible guard in the day of battle. A spray gathered in the same manner was placed in the cradle of infants, and thought to defend them from being changed for elf-bairns by the fairies ..."
That story is quoted by F. Marian McNeill in her classic work on Scottish folklore, myth and Celtic magic The Silver Bough. The mistletoe pictured here comes not from the Errol oak (which in any case was cut down many years ago), nor even from the local florist, who had none, but from the always reliable - though perhaps less magically potent - Waitrose. If I fall foul of 'glamour', or find an elf-bairn about the place (not that I have infants in cradles any longer), I'll know next year not to trust to third parties but to go foraging myself with a new dirk ...
Lovely! Heard today from Anne Fine who heard it from someone else that changelings never smile. All fairy children or elf bairns NEVER SMILE....that's surely the basis for a really creepy story. Wonder if Anne will write it. Or maybe I will....something spooky and delicious about mistletoe. And something VERY MAGICAL about Waitrose at any time!
Posted by: adele geras | 18 December 2012 at 05:06 PM
That would make a very creepy story - go on, Adele!
Posted by: Cornflower | 18 December 2012 at 05:15 PM