Most everyone in America is familiar with the Christmas mistletoe ball tradition. Hang it up, and whoever is standing underneath has to kiss each other. This is a popular custom that is shared throughout many homes. But where did this custom originate? It can surely be traced back to the 17th century, but there are many different legends from different cultures depicting this curious plant. Also, it is most ironic because the mistletoe plant is poisonous.



Mistletoe Facts.

Many do not know, but mistletoe is actually a partial parasitic plant. Partial because it can survive on its own through photosynthesis. It grows on trees and will grow roots into the trees, taking nutrients away from it. Mistletoe can live on its own, but it most commonly found living off other trees. There are two main species of mistletoe. Phoradendron flavescens is the type found in North America, which is used as Christmas decoration. There is also viscum album, which grows in Europe. It looks like a small green shrub with yellow flowers and small white berries. In many cultures, mistletoe is thought to be a mystical plant that can heal, protect and help with fertility. Mistletoe will stay green and alive throughout winter, while its host will not. Since mistletoe does stay green throughout the cold winter, it is not a stretch to see why people in history thought it to be a magical plant.

Kissing Under the Mistletoe.

The “kissing under the mistletoe” myth comes from Norse mythology. Baldur's mother, Frigga, Goddess of beauty and love, went to all plants and animals asking them to protect her son and cause him no harm, since he was the God of the summer sun. She overlooked one, mistletoe. Loki, God of evil, found this out and got another to kill Baldur with a spear laced with mistletoe. Baldur was eventually brought back to life. Frigga cried tears of little white berries, like the ones found on mistletoe. Out of admiration, Frigga vowed to kiss anyone who walked under the mistletoe, so beginning the kissing under the mistletoe myth. What a wonderful way for the story to end, love overcoming death.

The Druids and Mistletoe.

The Druids thought mistletoe to be sacred. It was very rare to find mistletoe growing off an oak, so when they did, they would worship it. When they would hold their five day sacrament right after the winter solstice, they would cut the mistletoe down with a golden sickle. The mistletoe would be hung in their house or outside the door to ward off evil spirits. It was also thought that mistletoe helped in aiding fertility. If enemies were to meet under mistletoe, they would call a truce until the following day.

Christians and Mistletoe.

Christian customs call it the Sacred Wood of the Cross, or Herbe de la Croix because it was thought to be the wood the cross that Jesus was crucified on was made of. Because of this, mistletoe would be doomed to be considered a parasitic vine for its part played in Jesus' death.