Q: What is the history of Mistletoe?

I have enjoyed researching mistletoe and have learned a lot. Interestingly, mistletoe is considered a botanical because it is a partial parasite (“hemiparasite”). As a parasitic plant, it grows on the branches or trunk of a tree and actually sends out roots that penetrate into the tree and take up nutrients, but mistletoe is also capable of growing on its own. There are two types of mistletoe. The mistletoe that is commonly used as a Christmas decoration (Phoradendron flavescent) is native to North America and grows as a parasite on trees from New Jersey to Florida. The other type of mistletoe, Viscum album, is of European origin. The European mistletoe is a green shrub with small, yellow flowers and white, sticky berries which are considered poisonous. 

Mistletoe was held sacred by many, and therefore, I have found many stories of where the customs we hold today with mistletoe originated. The Druid priests would cut mistletoe from an oak tree with a golden sickle. The branches had to be caught before they touched the ground. They then divided the branches into many sprigs and distributed them to the people who hung them over doorways as protection against thunder, lightning and other evils. The folklore continued over the centuries. It was believed that a sprig placed in a baby's cradle would protect the child from goblins. Giving a sprig to the first cow calving after New Year would protect the entire herd.

Mistletoe is a symbol for peace and joy. The idea originated in the ancient times of the Druids. Whenever enemies met under the mistletoe in the forest, they had to lay down their arms and observe a truce until the next day. From this comes the custom of hanging a ball of mistletoe from the ceiling and exchanging kisses under it as a sign of friendship and goodwill.

In the eighteenth century, the exchanging of kisses between a man and a woman under hanging mistletoe was adopted as a promise to marry. At Christmas, a young lady standing under a ball of mistletoe could not refuse to be kissed. The kiss could mean deep romance, lasting friendship and goodwill. It was believed that if a girl remained unkissed after standing under the mistletoe, she cannot expect to marry the following year.  

Thank you for the festive question, please keep them coming!