Since ancient times, mistletoe has been one of the most paranormal, inexplicable and sacred plants of European folklore. European mistletoe, Viscum album, figured outstandingly in Greek mythology, and is believed to be The Golden Bough of Aeneas, ancestor of the Romans. Mistletoe, also known as Celtic-All-Heal was popular by the 19th century.
All of us are very familiar with the ancient tradition of kissing under the mistletoe. According to a custom of Christmas cheer, any male and female who meet under a hanging of mistletoe are obliged to kiss. However, this ancient tradition descends from the customs of several different cultures.
The Druids considered mistletoe to be a sacred plant and trusted the fact that it has the ability to cure any type of disease, serve as an antidote against poisons, and protect against the harm of witchcraft. It was also believed that the mistletoe was an aphrodisiac or a sexual symbol. In France, the custom linked to the mistletoe was reserved for New Year’s Day.
In Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant of peace, under which enemies could declare a truce or warring spouses kiss and make-up. Whenever enemies met under the mistletoe in the forest, they had to lay down their arms and observe a truce until the next day. Young men have the privilege of kissing girls under it and pluck a berry each time form the bush. When all the berries are plucked, the privilege ceases.
When the Christmas decorations come down, mistletoe fades from our minds for another year, receding into the mists of mythology, rituals and enigma. In fact, we can rightly say that today, the custom of using the mistletoe to decorate the houses at Christmas is a survival of European beliefs and traditions.
Mistletoe kissing is a fun and lovely thing and most of us enjoy this tradition to the maximum!
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