When Celia suggested we use a personal holiday theme for December, I thought about all our family traditions we celebrate during the season. First and foremost is our display of the Nativity Scene above the mantel and our decorated Christmas tree in the living room. Also we enjoy the popular customs like stockings and wreathes hung, candles all aglow, fruitcakes and cookies baked and shared, and oh yes, we never forget our well-worn elves on the shelves every year!
But there's another traditional decoration some folks display in their homes, including ours ... Mistletoe. What kind of plant is it and where does it come from, some may wonder. And where did the holiday tradition of kissing under the mistletoe originate?
Mistletoe is commonly found growing as a parasitic plant.
There are two types of mistletoe. The mistletoe that is commonly used as a
Christmas decoration (Phoradendron flavescens) is native to North America and
grows as a parasite on trees from New Jersey to Florida. The other type of
mistletoe, (Viscum Album) is of European origin.
The use of Mistletoe goes back to the times of ancient
Druids. They didn’t kiss under it, but they believed the plant, especially a
rare species that grew on oak trees, to have sacred powers including the
ability to heal illnesses, protect against nightmares, and even predict the
future. The Druids would hang the plant in their houses hoping it would bring
them good luck and ward off evil spirits.
Mistletoe was also used as a sign of love and friendship in
Norse mythology and that’s where it’s believed the custom of kissing under
Mistletoe comes from. Mistletoe continued to be associated with fertility and
vitality through the Middle Ages, and by the 18th century it had
also become incorporated into Christmas celebrations around the world.
Victorian England is credited with perpetuating the
tradition of kissing under the mistletoe. The custom dictated that a man was
allowed to kiss any woman standing underneath mistletoe and that bad luck would
befall any woman who refused the kiss. One variation on the tradition was with
each kiss a berry was to be plucked from the mistletoe and the kissing must
stop after all the berries had been removed. Thus, the traditions which began
with the European mistletoe were transferred to the similar American plant with
the process of immigration and settlement.
So, how many of you decorate your homes with a sprig of
mistletoe (real or artificial) and follow the romantic tradition of couples kissing
when caught standing under it? Oh, by the way, I should mention that the plant
is poisonous, so please, don’t eat it. Just Kiss!
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!
To learn more about me and my books, please visit my website: www.cherikayclifton.com
I never thought of using mistletoe as a wreath during the holidays. That's a unique idea, Cheri. Dang, I wish I had thought of gathering mistletoe and selling it in my youth. Great idea that.
ReplyDeleteMistletoe is also highly poisonous, so I don't think anyone will be making soup out of it any time soon, but it is actually quite beautiful with its white berries.
I enjoyed reading your article with your personal history, Cheri. It's fun discovering what Christmas traditions others have created in their families.
I wish you and yours all the best this Christmas season.
Actually, when I researched the history and customs of Mistletoe, I could have written twice as much, but decided to make it a quick read. Glad you enjoyed it and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteCheri..I do love your post. We have oodles..that's "many" oak trees, thus we have mistletoe all over. We've generally paid no attention to it, knowing it was a poisonous plant, and not really have anywhere or any need to hang it in our house. But one year I noticed a big clump in a mesquite tree...we have a few of those, too...and this was right out front next to the road and to the side of the driveway. We left it there, but I always looked at it as we came and went. It was like a big ornament in the bare mesquite tree. Thanks for sharing your Christmas customs of Christmas.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it, Celia. Got a chuckle out of your mesquite tree "ornament!" Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard the tradition of plucking a berry off the mistletoe and then you had to stop kissing when the berries were gone. I think that's a cool thing. We haven't had mistletoe in our house for years. Maybe we should start it up again. Thanks for the post. Merry Christmas to you, Cheri.
ReplyDeleteActually that custom was new to me as well! Thanks for stopping by. Merry Christmas to you & yours too, Paisley.
ReplyDelete