A Kiss to Build A Dream On!

Mistletoe is a hemiparasitic plant, genus Viscum Album, attached to trees, especially oaks, and having no root, the ancient Greeks referred to it as a "thief". During ancient Roman times, during the festival of Saturnalia, a tribute to the god Saturn, mistletoe was used and said to promote fertility, and so began the practice of kissing under the mistletoe. Some say the word is from "mistiltang", Mist from the German "dung", and Tang from Old English for "branch", as the parasite was thought to spread from tree to tree by bird feces. Branches and leaves were used by herbalists for medicinal purposes, for circulatory and respiratory conditions.

The Druids in Britian were the first in Europe to use mistletoe in their rituals during the winter and midsummer soltices, practices that included prayer and animal sacrifice. A golden sickle was used to cut mistletoe branches, and good luck was ensured if the plant did not fall to the ground, so it was hung on high.  It was also given out, and all who recieved a branch were said to enjoy good health and blessings from the gods. Sprigs were hung under doorways or above baby cribs to prevent evil spirits.

So by extension, the Christian tradition frowned on the plant as pagan,  and its use was banned. But by the 18th Century, the ban was lifted on the humble sprig and kissing under it could once more commence. In fact, if a girl passed beneath it and was NOT kissed, it was said she would have bad luck in love for one year. All the more reason to get under the "kissing ball" quick! Interestingly enough, by 18th Century standards, that kiss constituted a real commitment, so on the 12th Night of Christmas, the branches were burned to ensure true love would prevail!

Below see an old botanical print of the plant, and also see the following link of a mistletoe poem (rather long, but enjoyable) http://www.best-poems.net/mary_robinson/poem-12977.html It was written by Mary Darby Robinson (1758-1800) English, dubbed the "English Sappho", known for her role as Perdita in Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale, and finally notoriously known as the first public mistress of King George IV. She must have spent some quality time under the mistletoe!