Spring Break
Mistletoe: a brief history
Emily Volz
Issue date: 12/8/08 Section: News
Amid the seasonal greetings and libations of a holiday party is a cutie who captures your attention. You've locked eyes, and now you're determined to lock lips.
As you saunter across the room, contemplating reasons to justify your forward behavior, you look up and find your alibi: mistletoe.
Mistletoe has a reputation for igniting the sparks of love. Tradition dictates that two people who meet underneath the mistletoe are obligated to kiss.
If the couple exchanges a kiss underneath the mistletoe, they will be rewarded with a year of happiness and good fortune. If they fail to uphold tradition, a year of bad luck will follow them.
Most Americans are familiar with the custom of kissing underneath the mistletoe. However, few people are familiar with the biology of mistletoe or the ancient stories that surround it.
In ancient times, Europeans had many more uses for mistletoe than exist today.
Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant by the Druids because its roots never touched the ground.
According to an Encarta column by Martha Brockenbrough, the Druids considered it bad luck for mistletoe to touch the ground, even after it was cut.
Placing mistletoe in a Druid baby's crib would deter fairies from stealing the child. Some people even believed that wearing mistletoe around their necks would make them invisible, according to Brockenbrough.
Druids can also be credited with starting the tradition of kissing underneath the mistletoe, according to Brockenbrough.
Two ancient tales provide us with clues as to how the tradition began.
In the first tale, the ancient Norse god Balder was killed by an arrow made of mistletoe. Balder's fellow Norse gods were upset and the goddess of love dedicated mistletoe to Balder, insisting anyone who passed under it receive a kiss as a sign of tribute.
The second legend says it was Druidic custom to lay down arms and exchange greetings under the mistletoe.
As you saunter across the room, contemplating reasons to justify your forward behavior, you look up and find your alibi: mistletoe.
Mistletoe has a reputation for igniting the sparks of love. Tradition dictates that two people who meet underneath the mistletoe are obligated to kiss.
If the couple exchanges a kiss underneath the mistletoe, they will be rewarded with a year of happiness and good fortune. If they fail to uphold tradition, a year of bad luck will follow them.
Most Americans are familiar with the custom of kissing underneath the mistletoe. However, few people are familiar with the biology of mistletoe or the ancient stories that surround it.
In ancient times, Europeans had many more uses for mistletoe than exist today.
Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant by the Druids because its roots never touched the ground.
According to an Encarta column by Martha Brockenbrough, the Druids considered it bad luck for mistletoe to touch the ground, even after it was cut.
Placing mistletoe in a Druid baby's crib would deter fairies from stealing the child. Some people even believed that wearing mistletoe around their necks would make them invisible, according to Brockenbrough.
Druids can also be credited with starting the tradition of kissing underneath the mistletoe, according to Brockenbrough.
Two ancient tales provide us with clues as to how the tradition began.
In the first tale, the ancient Norse god Balder was killed by an arrow made of mistletoe. Balder's fellow Norse gods were upset and the goddess of love dedicated mistletoe to Balder, insisting anyone who passed under it receive a kiss as a sign of tribute.
The second legend says it was Druidic custom to lay down arms and exchange greetings under the mistletoe.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Monica Ackers
posted 3/07/09 @ 12:46 AM EST
Nice review! Thanks!
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