If you were following along with the #12DaysofTurvy writing challenge over on Instagram, you know that mistletoe played a role in the end of my story . . .
. . . But what’s up with kissing under the mistletoe, anyway? So far this month I’ve written about Yule and wassailing, but the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is a little different. Many cultures all over the world have valued mistletoe, but kissing beneath it is a relatively recent addition to its folklore.
Let’s start by taking a step back. Mistletoe is actually a vine, similar to ivy. Today botanists think of it as parasitic, because it drains nutrients from trees–but historically, mistletoe was an honored plant. The ancient Greeks, Druids, and Norse alike believed that mistletoe had healing properties. Because it bloomed during the winter, it was also associated with vitality and protection. Early beliefs included the thought that if you kiss under mistletoe, your love will be long-lasting.
Kissing under mistletoe specifically as a holiday tradition, however, probably came about in the 1700s. At the time, “Kissing Boughs” were popular decorations, often hung over doors where people would greet each other. Mistletoe was a primary ingredient in the kissing boughs, and eventually rhymes were made about it alone:
Pick a berry off the mistletoe
For every kiss that’s given.
When the berries have all gone
There’s an end to kissing.
And there you have it! Like wassailing, mistletoe traditions are the result of lots of evolution over time–and lots of holiday cheer. 🙂
Selected Sources
Basic folklore about mistletoe comes from Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Lewellyn, 2020). Online, you can find some short, fun articles about the history of mistletoe from History.com and the Tudor Society.
