Early Mistletoe Traditions
By Joy J. Fine
Did you ever wonder why during Christmas it is an acceptable practice to use the mistletoe plant as an excuse to kiss someone? It traces back to how people in ancient times perceived this plant. It was believed to be a blessed plant because it did not require roots into the ground for it to grow. That is because this plant is a parasite that grows on the branches of trees. This odd way it grew made the Druids believe that God had put the plant there. Due to this belief that the plant itself was blessed it was used to make certain medicines. At one time it was believed to be able to cure everything from epilepsy to palsy and was thought to be useful in keeping disease away if it were worn around the neck. It was also thought to restore and preserve fertility and act as an aphrodisiac.
The ancient Druids strongly believed in the powers of the mistletoe plant and went so far as to perform special ceremonies using it. One occurred on the sixth night of the moon cycle when they chopped oak mistletoe. Then they would sacrifice a pair of white bulls during which time there would be special prayers said. Theses prayers asked that those who had, or were given, the mistletoe would flourish. As time went on and those pre-Christian traditions changed a few remained. The using of mistletoe was one, but it changed from being part of a sacrifice to being used to decorate homes.
In the past farmers in Europe believed that if mistletoe were hung in the barns then the cows would give better milk that would not turn sour as fast. They also believed that it would be easier to churn butter from that milk. The Celts held the belief that putting a sprig over the cradles or beds of their small children would prevent them being stolen by fairies. While others of that time thought that sprigs of it over doorways would keep evil spirits and witches away.
The modern tradition of kissing someone you see under mistletoe seems to have had its roots in fertility beliefs. Though in Scandinavia it was thought to being peace to warring factions where enemies would be prepared to call peace between them if they stood under this plant. Couples who were not getting along well believed that a kiss under this plant would restore tranquility to their relationship. Other European people believed that the when the last night of the Christmas celebration was upon them that the mistletoe must be burned or those younger ones who kissed under its magic would never marry. As well, in the early days, and this is a tradition still followed in many places, each time a man used the mistletoe to steal a kiss he was to pick a berry off the plant. When all the berries were gone then the magic of the plant was gone as well and no one should kiss under it again.
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