The Tradition of Mistletoe at Christmas

The Origins and Significance of Mistletoe

Mistletoe is a unique plant that commonly grows on various trees, such as willow, apple, and oak. The tradition of hanging mistletoe in homes is often believed to date back to the ancient Druids, although there is little concrete evidence to support this claim. Over time, mistletoe has been associated with mystical powers, including the ability to bring good luck to households and to ward off evil spirits. In Norse mythology, mistletoe was seen as a symbol of love and friendship, playing a key role in the story of ‘The Death of Baldur.’

Mistletoe in Early Christian Traditions

When Christianity began to spread throughout Western Europe, some Christian groups sought to prohibit the use of mistletoe as a church decoration due to its pagan associations. Despite these efforts, the use of mistletoe persisted. Notably, York Minster Church in the United Kingdom once held a special winter Mistletoe Service, during which wrongdoers in the city of York could come forward and receive pardons.

The Custom of Kissing Under Mistletoe

The tradition of kissing beneath the mistletoe appears to have originated in England. The earliest known reference to this custom dates back to 1784, in a song from the musical comedy ‘Two to One.’ The practice likely began during the early Georgian period, around the 1720s. Mistletoe was commonly used in the making of the Christmas Bough or Kissing Bough, a popular English decoration introduced during the Tudor period and particularly fashionable in the 1700s—hence the association with kissing.

Illustrations of kissing under mistletoe appear in the first published book version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ in 1843, which may have helped spread the tradition. According to the original custom, a berry had to be picked from the mistletoe’s sprig before a kiss was allowed, and once all the berries were gone, no more kisses could be exchanged. An old English rhyme sums up the tradition: “Pick a berry off the mistletoe, For every kiss that’s given. When the berries have all gone, There’s an end to kissing.”

The Meaning Behind the Name “Mistletoe”

The name “mistletoe” is derived from two Anglo Saxon words: “Mistel,” meaning dung, and “tan,” meaning twig or stick. This unromantic origin comes from the observation that birds, after eating the berries, would wipe their beaks on tree branches or spread the seeds through their droppings. As a result, “mistletoe” can be humorously translated as “poo on a stick.”