Making mistletoe into a pointed weapon of any kind seems impossible. It literally is a bunch of tiny spindly bendy twigs. However, mistletoe was sacred to European cultures. Pliny notes that it was cut with a special edged weapon during sacrificial rituals. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritual_of_oak_and_mistletoe
Frazier says it was considered sacred sperm of the sun, a promise of rebirth. In the Aeneid, the 'golden bough' of mistletoe is the charm that will safely lead Aeneas into the Underworld. It was said to be useful in different magics and to repel evil.
Various stories suggest that mistletoe began growing in trees after Frigg threw it there in rage. Also that the berries are Frigg's tears. Another story said that Frigg told the Aesir to forgive the lowly plant; because of this the mistletoe became a symbol of reconciliation and luck. The Victorians turned this into the kissing under it custom.
All of this, combined with Balder's connection as a god of light, a possible mistletoe-based sacrificial weapon?—seems to point this being a deliberate sacrifice, though not necessarily in the typical yearly-fertility types like Tammuz.
Some Asatru see it as a coming of age ritual. The bright warrior passively accepts being attacked before being killed by his blind brother. Old artwork shows Odin throwing a spear at Balder as well. In addition, Odin has killed or ordered killed many in similar fashions. It has been suggested that Loki acted according to Odin's order, or was a cut-out for Odin's dark side. Balder goes to Hel instead of Valhalla, incidentally skipping the worst of Ragnarok. As a ritual, the warrior goes through a typical Hero's Journey Confrontation with the Dark Side in Hel, whereas in Valhalla he wouldn't have. After Ragnarok, he rises from the dead or is reincarnated (which is in line with Norse tradition) to become the new king of all. All of which Odin was aware of, and may be part of what he whispered in Balder's ear before the body was burned. Norse tradition says that no one knows what Odin told Balder in that moment, but would it be a mystery if it were simply revenge or grief? No, more likely the whole thing was one of Odin's tricks. http://ourtroth.weebly.com/chapter-xii-balder-baldr-bealdor.html
Just a thought: in at least one version of the Eddas tale of Baldur's death, the mistletoe is tied to an arrow, making it sound a bit less silly. H Owever, that's just one version I read and I have no knowledge of how accurate it is.
Hide / Show Replies