Mistletoe … what kind of plant is it and where does it come from? And where did the holiday tradition of kissing under the mistletoe originate?
Other than seeing mistletoe for sale in the stores at Christmas time, I’d never known much about it until after I was married and my husband pointed out the plants growing in the tops of oak trees along the roadsides. He reminisced about how in his youth, he’d climb trees to cut down the mistletoe and sell it on the street corners for extra money during the holidays. Because of that bit of nostalgia, we’ve always had a sprig of mistletoe hanging over a doorway at Christmas time.
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.
What a cute post. I didn't realize there were two different types of mistletoe. Thanks, Cheri Kay!
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