Scott has the story behind the custom of kissing under the mistletoe.
So, what the heck is mistletoe and why is it customary to sneak a quick smooch under a sprig? The plant we use for holiday decorating and flirting is a species of leafy mistletoe. It can’t survive freezing, and can only be found south of New Jersey. But did you know that it’s a parasite? It doesn’t grow in soil… it lives on, and gets some of its nutrients from trees.
The word mistletoe actually comes from words that mean “dung on a twig.” Birds eat the white sticky berries and the seeds are spread onto trees in droppings. They sprout and mistletoe roots penetrate the host tree’s bark, to absorb water and food.
So what could possibly be romantic about a parasitic plant that travels in bird poop? Because of its unusual growth habits, mistletoe has inspired all sorts of legends. Ancient Greeks believed the plant improved fertility. The Druids thought that because the plants remained green after their host oak trees lost their leaves in the fall, they must have mystical life-giving properties. In Norse mythology, soldiers who met in battle under mistletoe would stop fighting and exchange a kiss of peace. From all of this rich history, it seems a short leap to the old English custom of kissing under the plant.
But in the 17 hundreds, kissing was considered a promise to marry, so beware! An innocent smooch combined with all that superstition could turn into more than you bargained for!
