Guide toMistletoe

Ho, ho, ho, tis the season to be jolly. Time to hang up the mistletoe, drink a glass of mulled wine and get all festive. Before have you ever thought about where all these Christmas traditions came from? Why have certain plants, like a decorative tree, poinsettia or holly, become synonymous with this time of the year?

Read on and we’ll unlock the secrets to one of these favourite seasonal plants – the mistletoe. What is it, why do we use it to decorate our homes and where on earth did the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe start?

What is mistletoe?

The best place to start our guide is by explaining that mistletoe is actually an evergreen plant which means it keeps its green leaves all year round. Unmistakable in its looks, the plant delivers a pair of dropping oval leaves with clusters of white berries appearing in winter and spring.

Although there are around 900 species across the world, it is only the European mistletoe (known as viscum album) with its white berries that is native to the UK. Head over to Spain, Southern Portugal, Morocco and South Africa and you can find another variety called Viscum Cruciatum which features red berries.

How does mistletoe grow?

There is one big difference between mistletoe and most other plants and that’s the fact that it is parasitic. Not the nicest of sounding descriptions but it means the plant grows on other trees to survive. Using specialised roots, the mistletoe buries into the bark and then helps itself to some of the water and nutrients from within the tree. While that may sound a bit harsh, the mistletoe doesn’t usually kill the tree although there is the possibility that it can weaken it.

If you find some mistletoe in the wild, you’ll notice that it grows in round pompom-shaped clusters which, if it’s winter and there are no leaves on the tree, almost look like seasonal baubles. You’ll have to choose carefully where you look for mistletoe because it can be a little particular about where it grows. It prefers to choose trees such as apple, hawthorn and poplar and does like to be somewhere in the open where there is plenty of light. That means you’re less likely to see mistletoe growing in a dense wood and should instead head out to a park or orchard. If you did want to see some growing in the wild, you should head over to the west midlands or south of the UK, it particularly likes Herefordshire!

Is mistletoe poisonous?

This may be the plant of festivity and romantic kisses but be careful when puckering up because mistletoe is poisonous to humans. The plant contains a toxic protein called phoratoxin which is particularly concentrated in the leaves of the plant. If eaten, it can cause drowsiness, blurred vision, diarrhoea and seizures. This plant is poisonous to both humans and our pets so you might want to think about keeping it well out of the way of children and our furry (and not so furry) friends.

It’s not all bad though, this plant is a great source of food for our wildlife and is particularly loved by birds, bees, butterflies and other insects. I think we can forgive it for being poisonous! In fact, it’s down to the birds that this plant can reproduce. The birds consume the mistletoe berries and when they fly to a new tree the seeds come out in their poo. This tacky mixture sticks to the new tree and, all being well, will start to grow into a new mistletoe plant.

Mistletoe meaning

Fancy learning a bit more about mistletoe? Did you know that this plant has played a significant position throughout history and it’s all related to what this plant symbolises.

Head back to Norse mythology and the story goes that the goddess Frigg, who was the first wife of Odin, dreamt of the death of her son Balder (he’s the god of light). Frigg put out an order that all living things must swear to do him no harm. The problem was, that she somehow forgot to add mistletoe to the list. Once the other gods realised that Balder was invincible to all living things, the gods would amuse themselves by throwing objects at the immortal god.

Step up Loki, the god of mischief, who noticed that mistletoe had been forgotten and went out on a mission to find some. The next time the gods started playing their throwing game, Loki went up to Balder’s blind brother, Hoder, and gave him a stick of mistletoe to throw. Balder was instantly killed and on seeing this, Frigg ran over and started to cry. Where her tears fell on the mistletoe, white berries grew and, on seeing them, Frigg announced that mistletoe would become a symbol of harm but instead peace.

This same sentiment was held by the Celtic Druids who believed that mistletoe growing on an oak was sacred and that it could only be removed following an intricate ritual. The plant was believed to mean peace and people who met underneath it would be forbidden from fighting. Continuing this theme, homes would be decorated with the plant to offer shelter to anyone who entered – in fact, the Druids are believed to be the first generation to start the tradition of hanging mistletoe up in the home. The traditions of the Celtic Druids continued over the years and even in the Middle Ages you would find families hanging up mistletoe to ward off evil spirits.

Tie these stories in with the evergreen leaves and its ability to flower in winter, this plant has long held a place as a symbol of eternal life, peace and love.

Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?

Now you know the meaning behind the plant, how did this all turn into the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe? At Christmas time, it is a well-known fact that if you bump into someone underneath the mistletoe then you have to give them a kiss. But where this all started is, in all honesty, unclear. It is believed to have started in Britain around the 1700s because after this date there are plenty of written accounts about cheeky kisses occurring underneath the mistletoe.

Jump forward to the Victorians and the trend was still going strong and has spread across the world. In fact, they believed that a quick kiss under the mistletoe was a symbol of fertility and romance.

How to use mistletoe at Christmas

Of course, when it comes to Christmas, the obvious way to use mistletoe in your home is to gather a bunch and hang it on a hook from the ceiling – the perfect excuse for a quick cuddle and a kiss. But what other ways are there to bring this festive plant into our home in December?

A Christmas wreath is the perfect place to start. Due to the fact the foliage isn’t thick, this one looks best if you start with a natural base such as willow or wicker. Next, insert the mistletoe in the gaps in the wreath ring – you may need to attach it with florist’s wire to keep it in place. Finally, add a decorative bow and your wreath is complete.

Another great idea is to use the mistletoe as a garland which you can display over a fireplace mantel, bookcase or even a table. Start with some brown jute twine or a thin piece of rope. This will form the base of the garland and needs to be thick enough to support the weight of the mistletoe and serve as an attractive backdrop. Now display bunches of the mistletoe along the twin and fix into place with the florist’s wire. Add in whatever decoration you like or keep it simple and let the mistletoe show off its simple elegance.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the interesting life of the mistletoe plant and find a way to bring it into your home this Christmas.