The Mistletoe Tradition
We’ve all heard about the wacky tradition of kissing under the mistletoe, but does anybody really know why we do it? I had no idea, so I started doing a little research to figure out the origin of this tradition.
What is Mistletoe?
Maybe it’s just me, but before I started researching, I seriously had no idea what mistletoe was. I mean, when I was young, my mom always hung some fake mistletoe in the entry of our house around the holidays, but other than that, I never really had any exposure to it.
So, here’s the scoop: mistletoe is a plant, but it is part parasite! Yeah, not very romantic, right? I didn’t think so either. It is a parasitic plant because the roots of mistletoe have the ability to grow deep into plants and trees, and actually attack and kill them.
Call me crazy, but this isn’t the type of plant I picture as a mood setter!
Why the Kissing?
Aside from the fact that the mistletoe is a big fat bully in the plant world, it is known for being very majestic, mysterious, and sacred. From the earliest of times, mistletoe has symbolized life and fertility, and also was viewed as a highly-sexual aphrodisiac. Now, I’m starting to understand the romance factor…
The first under-the-mistletoe-kiss took place during the Greek Festival of Saturnalia, and then moved on to being recognized as a marital tradition (mostly because of the belief of the plant’s fertility power). From there, mistletoe’s popularity continued to grow, and it went on to become a seasonal tradition known as the “kissing ball.” People began hanging balls of mistletoe around their home, and started kissing beneath it for good luck.
Today, we simply look for any excuse to get romantic! Hanging mistletoe in doorways and other areas in your home makes for great seasonal décor, but it adds a bit of sentiment and tradition as well – plus, it allows you to lay one on that special someone :)
Do You Kiss Under the Mistletoe?
I do! I stole my mom’s tradition of hanging the fake mistletoe in our home’s entry way, and I look forward to putting it up every year. I don’t buy into the symbolism behind mistletoe, but a tradition that encourages me to kiss my guy is a tradition I can definitely get on board with!
Merry Christmas, GAGers!
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