Ceremonial Mistletoe Harvest

Members of the Mistletoe Foundation met this morning in Tenbury to carry out the Druidic Mistletoe Harvesting ceremony (whilst being recorded by Radio 4).  The Mistletoe is cut with a Golden Sickle and caught in a white sheet so that the Mistletoe doesn't touch the ground.

The Mistletoe will be paraded through Tenbury at about 2pm this afternoon, (starting at he Rose & Crown, Burford) and a further ceremony will be held on the Burgage before the Mistletoe will thrown into the River Teme as an offering.

Radio 4 will be in attendance along with a number of photographers from various publication.
Radio 4 Open Country

First Holly & Mistletoe Sale 2010

Mistletoe Foundation Blessing, originally uploaded by @WR15.

This morning saw the first Mistletoe Auction of 2010. An overnight fall of snow made the scene feel a little more seasonal.

There were a good number of lots laid out at the new (for 2010) auction site on spare ground at the Tenbury Wells, Bromyard Road Business Park. As usual Nick Champion and his team had worked hard to lay out everything in a neat and professional manor.

Photographers, journalists and film crews from various local & national publications swelled the numbers of onlookers as members of the Mistletoe Foundation carried out the traditional blessing of the holly & mistletoe with water from a sacred well.