Why do People Kiss Under the Mistletoe?

Mistletoe is a plant that grows on every continent except Antarctica. An American variety can be found from New Jersey to Florida and west to Texas, along with dwarf mistletoe in central Canada and southeastern Alaska. There are 1300 species of mistletoe. Plants typically feature a branchy construction with small leaves and white berries.

Mistletoe is unusual for a couple of reasons. First, it is considered a partial parasite, since it produces chlorophyll but also feeds off its host plant. Mistletoe has sticky seeds that travel from one host plant to another via birds and other creatures.

Secondly, mistletoe can bloom even in winter. This must have amazed ancient cultures, many of whom wove stories around the plant and even used it to cure ailments. The Celtic Druids considered mistletoe a healing plant, as well as a symbol of energy and fertility. Cutting down the mistletoe was a ceremonial part of their winter solstice celebrations.

Mistletoe figures prominently in Norse mythology. There are several variations of the mistletoe story, which goes something like this:

Baldur, a god associated with light and beauty, was the son of Odin, chief of all gods, and Frigg, the goddess of love. When a seer foretold Baldur’s death, Frigg obtained oaths from all living things that they would not harm her son. However, Loki, the god of mischief, discovered the one plant that had not taken the oath, the mistletoe, and used it to kill Baldur.

Mistletoe is an age-old symbol of love and an evergreen plant that produces seeds in winter. Given these traits and its ancient association with the winter solstice, using mistletoe adds nuanced symbolism to the Christmas season.

In addition, mistletoe’s link with fertility continued through the Middle Ages. While mistletoe decorations often were hung to ward off evil spirits, it wasn’t until the 18th century that it began to creep into our Christmas customs.  

Mistletoe lore says that those who meet beneath the plant must kiss. Thus, a mistletoe ball is commonly hung in doorways, entryways and on chandeliers. We can’t help but suspect that opportunistic lovers might have carried a mistletoe branch with them throughout the holiday season!

The playful custom appears to have begun with England’s serving class before gaining widespread popularity.

Written references to kissing under the mistletoe began to appear after 1780. Less than 40 years later, Charles Dickens wrote a scene in “The Pickwick Papers,” describing ladies’ reactions to a mistletoe kiss.

American author Washington Irving also wrote about the popularity of kissing under mistletoe. In “The Sketch Book,” published in 1820, he describes Christmas customs he observed in England. This included young men enjoying the privilege of kissing a girl and picking a berry from the bunch after each kiss.

If you use real mistletoe, be cautious. The waxy white mistletoe berries are poisonous and fall off easily, posing a danger to children and pets. You can remove or replace them with fake berries, or use artificial mistletoe instead.