Mistletoe is one of the most recognisable aspects of Christmas. It is a green plant with pointy, leathery leaves and small waxy berries in either red or white. It is a parasitic plant that grows on trees and shrubs worldwide. When stopped underneath the mistletoe, usually in a doorway, the story goes that you can kiss whoever is there with you.
This tradition is long-standing and well-known, but where did it come from?
While they didn’t kiss underneath it, Celtic Druids were some of the first to use mistletoe in ceremonies. They believed it to have the ability to heal illness, prevent nightmares and create protection against them and even predict the future. It is possible that they were the first to use the plant to decorate their homes at Christmastime, even though they did not practice the holiday itself. This is because they collected the plant around the winter solstices as well as summer.
It was in ancient Greece that the tradition of kissing beneath the plant came about. It began during the festival of Saturnalia. Eventually, it became part of marriage ceremonies as the plant is associated with fertility.
In Roman times, enemies would settle their differences under the mistletoe as they connected it with peace. In midwinter, they would decorate their homes and temples with the plant in order to appease their gods.
The first act of kissing underneath the mistletoe came from a Nordic myth. Frigga, the goddess of love, considered the plant sacred. Loki, the god of mischief, shot Frigga’s son with a weapon carved from mistletoe. Frigga revived her son under the tree and thus declared that those who stand underneath the tree deserved both protection from death and indeed a kiss.
It was believed in the Middle Ages that the plant could wade of epilepsy, but this has been proven to be false. It was also used in that era to keep evil and witches away.
Mistletoe was a huge deal in Victorian England. If a woman refused a kiss, she should not expect marriage proposals for at least a year. People would rebuff her, telling her that she would end up and old maid.
The traditional ritual under the mistletoe did not simply entail a kiss, however. The man would pluck a berry from the plant while kissing the woman on the cheek. The berries contain toxic amines, so consumption can cause illness. In some cases, such as drinking too much mistletoe tea, it can even be fatal.
Today, the tradition is a much more light-hearted and relaxed game. Many songs keep the tradition alive, such as Mistletoe by Justin Bieber, Mistletoe and Wine by Cliff Richard and Underneath the Mistletoe by Sia.
Mistletoe can make for a wonderful decoration for your house, or even in the street. This huge mistletoe decoration came to Dublin’s Grafton Street in 2016 above Weir & Sons Jewellers and provided some excellent photo opportunities for those passing by.
Some may still kiss beneath the plant, others may carry it as a joke. One thing is for sure – You can always expect to see mistletoe at an office Christmas party!
