Editing Mistletoe

{{Era|Culture}}{{WP-REAL}}
{{Imageneed}}
'''Mistletoe''' is the common name for a number of parasitic plants in the order {{Wiki|Santalales}}. Its most famous species, ''Viscum album'', is native to [[Europe]], where it features in many myths and legends, such as in [[Norse mythology]],<ref name="Wiki">{{WP|Mistletoe}}</ref> where it is usually considered a symbol of hope and renewal.<ref name="Pride">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]] – [[Dawn of Ragnarök]]'' – [[The Rescue (Valhalla)|The Rescue]]</ref>

==Mythology==
In Norse myth, the goddess [[Freyja]] went about the world, extracting a promise from every plant and animal that they would do her son, [[Baldr]], no harm, all except the mistletoe, making the god invulnerable to everything but the small plant.<ref name="Issue 2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Forgotten Myths]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Forgotten Myths 2|Issue 2]]</ref> In a telling of the Norse myth detailing Baldr's travels before being captured by the [[Muspels]], he revealed his weakness to [[Loki]],<ref name="Issue 2"/> who later collected the mistle-berries and bake a cake with them, gifting it to Baldr while disguised as [[Eysa]], princess of the Muspels. Though aware of Loki's treachery, Baldr still ate the cake and was captured by Surtr.<ref name="Issue 3">''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Forgotten Myths'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Forgotten Myths 3|Issue 3]]</ref>

==Legacy==
In [[Eivor Varinsdottir]]'s visions of [[Odin]]'s time at [[Svartálfaheimr]], the god and Freyja found a room in a building in [[Eitri]] which housed a table covered with mistletoe and nearby a note saying that only the plant would harm Baldr, which Odin suspected had been written by Loki.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Dawn of Ragnarök'' – [[The Rescue (Valhalla)|The Rescue]]</ref> [[Calder]] and [[Sinmara]] used many drafts made with the plant to torture Baldr.<ref name="Pride"/>

==History==
In 9th century [[East Anglia]], a sprig of mistletoe was part of a recipe for a charm meant to bless the harvest, called the "Charm of Crop Blóm".<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Viking Expansion notes]]: Scroll of Potent Charms</ref> In [[Ireland]], mistle berries were given to the fae as offerings, alongside yarrow root and morning dew.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – [[Wrath of the Druids]]'' – Viking Expansion notes: Letter to the Fairy</ref>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' {{mo}}
**''[[Wrath of the Druids]]'' {{mo}}
**''[[Dawn of Ragnarök]]'' {{mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Forgotten Myths]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Plants]]