Magical Mistletoe Mystery

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

 Mention the word Oklahoma, and you are going to get either one of two responses from people - they will either burst into the song OKLAHOMA! - thanks to the play of the same name by Rogers and Hammerstein, which gave us our official state song;  or, especially if  they're Black and WOKE, they will ask you if you know about BLACK WALL STREET!  there are two things  are fixed permanently in the mindset of most Americans

But there is something else that Oklahoma is famous for, but most people don't even realize it.  And  depending on when you were raised, and how you were educated, many contemporary Oklahomans may not know it either.

Every State in the United States has a State Motto, State Flag, State Tree, State Bird and a State Flower.  I learned these in the first grade:
State Motto:  Labor Omnia Vincente (work conquers all);  Our State Flag:  Blue background, buffalo skin shield, 7 warbonnet feathers, and a Calumet (peace pipe) and stars representing the 5 Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole,  Creek (Muskogee).  We had to practice drawing that flag over and over and over again, til I can virtually draw it in my sleep. Our State Tree - Dogwood  - don't ask me why. And our State Bird is The Scissor Tailed Flycatcher - Now how's that for Unique.    But the most fascinating thing for me as a kid in the first grade was that our State Flower is none other than  THE MISTLETOE!!!

Yes!  The same Mistletoe people rush to get under to legitimately share, or steal, a kiss during the Christmas season is the State Flower of Oklahoma.  That really fired up my imagination - and that of my peers when we became old enough to understand the significance of having Mistletoe hanging from practically every branch of every tree in Oklahoma City.  Grounds for giggles where you were just crossing into puberty, and some sloppy kissing adolescent was trying to get next to you; or worse yet, you were trying to entice him.   But, if it was someone you absolutely didn't want to have anything to do with, it was hard to dodge them for the same reason - they were practically everywhere.

Of course, if you were dating age, and in proximity of the ever present Mistletoe, and your boyfriend didn't buy into it, it could very well be grounds for breaking up.   How dare he break the tradition - that was like saying that he wasn't into you.  Also kind of humiliating with half your peers watching to see what was going to happen. 

I remember in the sixth grade, my favorite teacher, Mr. Hancock, during our science class, told us that Mistletoe wasn't really a plant; it was a parasite that affixed itself to different trees.  Of course we were quite upset to have our romantic illusion destroyed like this.  So many of us - yes, yours truly as well - pretended not to know this fact, and  continued to pursue the magic of the mistletoe kiss anyway.

Over the next several years - college, career, raising families, etc. -  the significance of the Mistletoe had kind of retreated into the recesses of my psyche' and had not been thought about for years.  But HallMark and LifeTime and the plethora of  Christmas movies on TV has brought the Magic of Mistletoe  back to my consciousness, front and center!   And I'm happy to see that the tradition of Mistletoe hung above the door and other significant places is still alive and well.

Though it's not an original African American tradition, I still love it.  According to history it came from the Scandinavia - and was the symbol of romance and peace - it was used at weddings, not only for the bride and groom, but for all those at the wedding party.  Regardless of who started it, I think it's a great tradition to adopt.  The Druids thought it brought good luck and that to kiss under the Mistletoe, especially in December, would bring good fortune - hence the increased popularity around Christmas.   

CAUTION:  if you have any idea about eating it, DON'T! Mistletoe is poisonous to humans - while animals don't have any problem with it.  So consider it as completely decorative.

Just hang it in doorways, from trees, rafters - or carry some with you in your purse or backpack, so you can whip it out in case of a kissing emergency.  LOL 

And for those of you who, like me, binge watch practically every Christmas Romance movie Hallmark ever produces, you can't watch without the constant reminder of Mistletoe being the catalyst for many missed and consummated kisses.  I often wonder whether any of my Oklahoma Homies think about our Mistletoe heritage when they watch these well crafted fantasy love stories (by the way, I just love Hallmark's writing and happily ever after love story endings.  It's kind of how I was raised in Oklahoma - to believe that things work out; especially if you work them).

So if you're in Oklahoma during the Christmas holiday, don't be at all surprised if someone comes up and plants a big one on your cheek or lips.  You're probably standing under the Mistletoe - take it in good stride and return the favor.    Also, just for clarification, the berries on the Mistletoe flower are white; berries on the Holly branches are red, and their leaves are prickly (ouch!).  So Holly bushes don't count. 

And if you're from Oklahoma, and trying to think of something nice to send a friend, pick a bit of Mistletoe off of one our trees; wrap it in something to retain its moisture, put it in a small gift box and send it to someone who might need a kiss.

Hanging Mistletoe

So now, if anyone mentions Oklahoma to you, you have a bit of trivia to add to your ever expanding knowledge of Oklahoma.  


PS:  SPEAKING OF OKLAHOMA:  
Happy Birthday Grandmother Zady with the Ancestor/Angels


Today, December 13, 2019 is the birthday of my maternal grandmother, Zady Dulan - my Dad's mom.    I am sharing a link to the Blog Post I dedicated to her in 2014:

https://gloria-dulan-wilson.blogspot.com/2014/12/celebrating-my-grandmom-zady-dulan-on.html

NOW THAT YOU KNOW

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

Stay Blessed & 

ECLECTICALLY BLACK 

Gloria Dulan-Wilson
eclecticallyblacknews@gmail.com

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