Did you ever wonder about the custom of kissing while standing under a parasitic shrub with poisonous berries that was named after bird droppings? Takes the romance out of mistletoe, doesn’t it?
Mistletoe is actually an ancient plant found in Europe and America. Its name comes from the Anglo-Saxon words, “mistel” (dung) and “tan” (twig) because people noticed the plant appeared on trees after birds visited the branches.
Celtic Druids living two hundred years before the birth of Christ used mistletoe in their winter celebrations. They honored the plant since it had no roots yet remained green during the cold months of winter. They believed mistletoe had magical healing powers and encouraged people to wear a sprig attached to their clothing to protect them from illness.
Romans considered the plant a symbol of peace and when enemies met under mistletoe, they would lay down their weapons and embrace. The Vikings associated the plant with Frigga, the goddess of love. According to their custom, those who kissed beneath mistletoe would have a year of happiness and good luck.
Because of its reputation for good luck, a housewife would hang mistletoe year-round to protect against lightening or fire. Since the berries appear during winter, the plant would be cut from trees every year at Christmastime and replaced the following Christmas eve.
Legend predicts that a couple kissing under the mistletoe will marry and have a long, happy life, while an unmarried woman not kissed under the mistletoe will remain single for another year.
The correct mistletoe etiquette is for a man to remove one berry whenever he kisses a woman standing under the plant. When all the berries are gone, no more kissing can occur.
You can make your own mistletoe ball with a Styrofoam ball, floral pins and a ribbon for hanging. When you hang it, remember that the berries are poisonous and keep them out of children’s reach.