Page 12 - North Haven Magazine Issue 21 Holiday 2021

The Story of
The Story of by Marisa Hexter

Mistletoe:
Mistletoe:

History, Legends, and Traditions

"What all the men, Jem, John, and Joe, / Cry, ‘What good-luck has sent ye?’ /
And kiss beneath the mistletoe. / The girl not turn’d of twenty.”
“Rockin’ around the Christmas tree/ At the Christmas party hop /
Mistletoe hung where you can see/ Every couple tries to stop.” Mistletoe growing on trees

ven though these songs were written al- Because mistletoe is found in so many places did kiss under the mistletoe, another belief
Emost 200 years apart (1784 and 1958), around the world, many cultures used and is that she would be married within the up-
they both show how mistletoe is a staple in continue to use the plant in many traditions, coming year.
holiday traditions and culture. Today, many rituals, holidays, and even in medicine. The
know it as a decoration under which two word “mistletoe” is a mixture of two words: Washington Irving’s, “The Sketch Book,”
people kiss, but do you know that through- “mistle” stemming from Germanic and twig, published in 1820, discussed another aspect
out the years mistletoe has been an import- or tān, in Old English. But the use of the of the tradition: plucking a berry off the plant
ant player in many cultures? From Celts to plant can be seen in civilizations from An- after a kiss. “The mistletoe is still hung up in
Romans, and even Norse Mythology, mis- cient Rome, Celts, and even Norse Mythol- farm-houses and kitchens at Christmas, and
tletoe has played a role in traditions beyond ogy. The plant represented male fertility in the young men have the privilege of kissing
Christmastime cheer. many cultures. In Celtic times, there was a the girls under it, plucking each time a ber-
“ritual of oak and mistletoe” performed by ry from the bush. When the berries are all
Druid Priests; though there is only one writ- plucked the privilege ceases.”
ten source of this event. Ancient Romans
were believed to hang it over their doorways,
as the plant symbolized peace. In Norse
Mythology, there is a tale of a god, Baldur,
being slain by Loki, who used mistletoe as
his weapon. Baldur’s mother, Frigg, made
every living thing which grew on or in the
earth swear to never harm him. Mistletoe, as
Loki found, did not grow on the earth, but
merely grew on other plants. Loki then cre-
But first, let’s dive into the story about the ated a weapon out of mistletoe and wounded
actual plant. Mistletoe is a hemi-parasite, Baldur, killing him. As time went on, mistletoe became another
meaning it attaches itself to a “host”, a tree symbol of the Christmas season many cele-
or shrub usually, through a structure in the When did mistletoe become part of a Christ- brate today. Along with singing songs, bak-
plant called a haustorium. The haustorium mastime tradition? Historians do not exactly ing cookies, and wrapping gifts, decorating
perforates the host’s system, where it can know when it became popular for lovers to with mistletoe is a common tradition with
take its water and nutrients. Now because of kiss under mistletoe, but they do know the many who celebrate the holiday. There are
this, a large growth of mistletoe can kill its tradition started with servants, who are re- many pop culture references today which
host tree or shrub, but there are times where puted with popularizing the tradition. The involve the green leaves and white berries.
the plant can grow on its own as well. When song lyrics at the beginning of this article, Songs like “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa
on a host plant, mistletoe is easiest to find published in 1784 are the first written in- Claus”, “Rocking Around the Christmas
during the winter months when branch- stance of mistletoe and kissing underneath Tree”, and “All I Want For Christmas is You”
es are bare. But how does it get onto a tree it being referenced. Before then, mistletoe are some of the most popular, while some
or shrub? Mistletoe’s berries are very sticky was probably used in Christianity similarly like “Ring Out Solstice Bells” by Jethro Tull
and as a favorite of many birds, insects, and to the Romans, as a sign of peace. During tell the story of the Celtic Ritual of Oak and
other animals, the seeds are passed along to the Victorian era, mistletoe and the tradi- Mistletoe. And if you’re a Hallmark Movie
wherever the animal or insect would land tion of kissing under it became more pop- fan, you might even see mistletoe’s magic in
after eating them. From honeybees and but- ular. Christmastime traditions, like putting action in a couple of their movies.
terflies to owls and many birds, mistletoe up and decorating a tree, sending cards, and
berries and nectar provide nutrients and gifting presents were all becoming at the Mistletoe has represented peace, love, and
food. Raptors even use the trees and shrubs same time as well. In literature from this fertility in many traditions throughout cul-
that mistletoe damages as a place to perch. era, women are depicted as resisting kisses tures and mythology, and still continues to
Across the world, there are over 1,500 spe- from men, but eventually they gave in after help represent a spirit of togetherness during
cies of mistletoe! From North America to being caught under the mistletoe, else they the holiday season. A small plant can still
the British Isles and Australia, mistletoe can would have bad luck; a common superstition create a great deal of memories, maybe even
be found almost anywhere. regarding the tradition. If a single woman one of your own.

12 North Haven Magazine - Holiday Issue 2021