The History of Mistletoe – The Kissing Plant

We all love to kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas. But have you ever wondered why we do this during the holidays? The history of mistletoe actually goes back centuries. 

What a month this is going to be! Did you know that there are over 150 national days in December to celebrate?

December 1st is National Mistletoe Day. Since the plant is a symbol of Christmas and, for many, the Christmas season starts on this day, let’s find out something about the history of the plant.

In addition to mistletoe, the poinsettia also has a special significance this month. National Poinsettia Day also falls in December.

(For more national day information, be sure to check out my national day guide.)

I find it to be an oddity that a parasitic plant, such as mistletoe, has come to be associated with an established tradition of kissing at holiday time.

This practice is not a newly discovered way to show affection. It has actual roots in history.

Many of our current holidays, from New Years Day to Halloween and Christmas are steeped in historical tradition. Let’s find out why mistletoe is so popular.

Facts about mistletoe

Mistletoe – phoradendron flavescens, is considered a parasite plant. It lives off of other growing plants and trees.

Since the plant mistletoe has no actual roots, it finds its way onto logs and trees and forms roots there, staying green in the wintertime, even when the host plant is a bare-limb tree. 

In severe infestations of mistletoe, the parasite can kill an oak tree because it robs the tree of nutrients. The botanic name of mistletoe (phoradendron) actually means “thief of the tree.”

What color are the berries of mistletoe?

We tend to think of the berries of mistletoe as white, since most faux Christmas decorations of mistletoe contain this color.

However, in addition to white berries, mistletoe berries can be red, or pinkish in color. This depends on the type of mistletoe plant.

The berries of mistletoe are poisonous to humans, but birds and other species often eat these berries during the fall and winter months.

The birds particularly find the berries enticing and they are quite sticky. If they get some stuck on their beaks, they will rub against trees to remove them, and a host is born.

Types of mistletoe

There are two different types of mistletoe. The one that we are familiar with, which is thought of as Christmas mistletoe, is native to North America.

It grows as a parasite on trees along the east coast of the country and down to Florida. It is often found on oak trees.

There is also another type which is European mistletoe- viscum album. This type is often seen on apple trees, but rarely on oak.

The history of using mistletoe

The use of mistletoe in folk lore dates back to the ancient Druids.

They believed mistletoe to be a sacred plant and it was used in many of their rituals. They thought that mistletoe had mystical powers and held the soul of the host tree.

Mistletoe in Norse mythology

The story from Norse mythology is that a blind god Höðr (Hod,) twin brother of Baldr and son of Odin, was tricked by Loki.

Their mother made everyone and everything in existence swear to never harm Baldr. Unfortunately, she did not think that the mistletoe was important enough to ask that it not harm him.

Many gods had tried to harm Baldr and always failed, until Loki made a spear from mistletoe and tricked and guided Höðr to shoot it at Baldr, killing him.

The powers of mistletoe

The mistletoe plant was believed to have specific powers. It was hung on stable doors to ward off evil spirits, and also on home doorways since it was considered a symbol of fertility. 

In fact, throughout the middle ages, mistletoe was banned by the churches because of this belief in its fertility (and the frivolousness that goes along with it!)

Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?

The practice of kissing under the mistletoe originated with the Roman festival of Saturnalia, the festival or celebration of Saturn. Just like at Christmas now, kissing under the mistletoe started with the onset of Saturnalia.

There is hardly a mention of mistletoe in literature in England until the 18th century. But after this, and particularly in Victorian England in the 19th century, the mention of it flourished all over Europe.

There were specific rules to this tradition in England. The gentleman would pluck one white berry while kissing the lady on the cheek. One kiss is allowed for each berry. 

When the berries were done, the tradition was finished. If a girl refused to kiss, it was said that she should not expect any marriage proposals for at least the next year!

Washington Irving, in the story Christmas Eve, even told of the typical festivities surrounding the Twelve Days of Christmas, including kissing under the mistletoe. 

Irving says: “The mistletoe is still hung up in farm-houses and kitchens at Christmas, and the young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under it, plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked the privilege ceases.”

If kissing under the mistletoe brings to mind the topic of a proposal of marriage, did you know that there is actually a National Proposal Day? This day occurs on the first day of both spring and fall.

Mistletoe kissing ball history

Today we tend to think of kissing under the mistletoe by having a sprig of it held above our heads, but kissing balls also date back to Victorian times.

The Victorians took the mistletoe kissing to a new level with their “kissing balls,” many of which were quite elaborate.

The practice was not limited to the gentry as the photo above shows. It was widespread with common people too.

The Victorians used actual mistletoe plants but modern day kissing balls. Instead of just sprigs of mistletoe, the branches, complete with berries where shaped into ball shapes and used as holiday decorations.

The kissing ball was now thought to mean romance, rather than mere good will to one another.  At parties, dancers would waltz under the balls that had been decorated with mistletoe to get a kiss from their partners.

Today, mistletoe kissing balls are often made from silk flowers with plastic berries so that they can be stored from one season to the next.

Using mistletoe today

Eventually, sprigs of mistletoe became more popular than other types of decorated greenery like mistletoe balls and have become the symbol of holiday affection that we know and love today.

This cover from the Saturday Evening Post shows how we often use mistletoe today, with a single sprig over a woman’s head being enough to initiate the kiss. Often the man holds it himself!

The practice has continued into modern day. Many Christmas movies and Christmas cards feature it and Christmas decoration often have mistletoe sprigs and berries as a part of them.

We have a mistletoe ball handing in the doorway to our kitchen to entice any guests to take part in the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe.

We moderns have conveniently forgotten the part about plucking the berries, and also from the stopping from kissing under the mistletoe when the berries run out, since it is so much more fun to continue!

Is mistletoe tradition a part of your Christmas celebrating? Please tell us about it in the comments section below.

More holiday plants

If you en joyed learning about the history of mistletoe you’ll be excited to know that Christmas isn’t the only holiday with plants that hold special meaning during holiday. Every holiday has festive plants associated with it.

• Christmas – Check out the traditions of Christmas greenery to learn more about the other plants associated with Christmas.
• Thanksgiving – It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce (or cranberry relish). This tart berry is a symbol of Thanksgiving.
• Valentine’s Day – During Valentine’s Day you’re bound to see bunches of red roses. That’s because roses are one of the symbols of Valentine’s Day!
• Chinese New Year – There are many lucky flowers and plants during the Chinese New Year like bamboo, orchids, and peach blossoms.
• St. Patrick’s Day – The shamrock holds special meaning for St. Patrick’s Day. It has special significance to Irish history, and religious meaning too.
• Mardi Gras – The fleur de lis symbol, which is associated with Mardi Gras literally translates to mean “lily flower” from French.
• Easter – There are three plants that hold religious meaning for the Easter holiday: palm branches, the dogwood tree and Easter lilies!

Pin this post on the history of mistletoe for later

Would you like a reminder of this post about the history of mistletoe? Just pin this image to one of your Christmas boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

Admin note:  This post first appeared on the blog in November of 2013. I have updated the post with additional history facts, more photos and a video for you to enjoy.

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