Mistletoe at Christmas

Love it or hate it, a kiss under the mistletoe - be it a quick peck or something more passionate - is one of the long-standing Christmas/Xmas traditions. Some buy a bunch and carry it around with them - many others avoid it wherever possible!

Mistletoe is often associated with holly, as in the 1957 Frank Sinatra song "Mistletoe and Holly".

What is Mistletoe?

Mistletoe is a parasitic plant of the Santalaceae and Loranthaceae families and there are many different species around the world. It is not a flower but rather a flowering plant (angiosperm). It usually has pairs of leaves along its stem and clusters of white berries.

Being parasitic, mistletoe grows on other plants, usually trees or shrubs. Most mistletoe seems to grow high up in trees, which may be related to the tradition of hanging it from the ceiling.

Mistletoe is toxic and even the sap can produce a nasty reaction in some. Never keep mistletoe within reach of children. You might want to consider buying artificial sprigs instead of the real thing.

Mistletoe Folklore

Mistletoe has had an important role in many of the ancient cultures and is often credited special properties and magic power. In Norse mythology, the God Baldur was killed by a poisoned mistletoe arrow.

Like so much of our Christmas tradition, mistletoe has a lot of connections with the ancient pagans and the Celts. Despite its toxicity, the plant was used by ancient herbalsts for a variety of purposes and the name reportedly comes from the Celtic for "All heal", although this etymology is disupted.

Mistletoe has a reputation for being able to survive the harshest of conditions. In fact it can be difficult to get rid of and some gardeners consider it a pest. This ability to survive and be reborn made it an excellent symbol for the ancient pagan midwinter festivals.

Kissing Under the Mistletoe

The parasitic nature of the plant was seen more as symbiosis, with the mistletoe believed to help keep the host alive during the long winter months. This led to it becoming a symbol for friendship which probably led eventually to our modern tradition of kissing under the mistletoe.

Be aware that the significance of the mistletoe kiss varies between cultures. In some countries it might just be a fun part of the Christmas party, in others it could represent a proposal of marriage! Whatever the situation, the kiss should, of course, only ever be safe, sane and consensual.