What is Mistletoe?
Good question thanks for asking. Well…mistletoe or viscum album in Geek, is a hemi parasitic plant that grows attached to and around the branches of trees. They grow on a wide variety of host trees and often inhibit the growth of a tree with large infestations. Mistletoe seeds are spread through the poo poo kaka of birds and indeed use this poo poo kaka as a nutrient source to get started in life. After this the cheeky little plant steals nutrients and water from the tree and only bothers doing a little photosynthesizing for itself. Hence our friend the mistletoe is an evergreen. Most easily seen in winter when the host trees have lost their leaves and the mistletoe grows in clumps or spheres and are silhouetted against the sky.
Kissing Under The Mistletoe
Where does the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe come from? It seems that our cousins the Swedes, in ancient times believed the mistletoe to be a plant of peace. If enemies were to meet by chance in the forest they would lay down there arms and when friends met under it they would rejoice and party on down.
The Celts too held mistletoe in the highest of regard and whenever it was found there was a solemn collecting ritual followed by feasting…already we can see the mistletoe is being surrounded by a rather nice vibe of peace, love and parties. Couple this partying with the fact that the plant was considered a powerful aphrodisiac and we start to put the pieces together as to why we get all smoochy underneath it.
The tradition used to be that a young man could kiss a girl of his choice underneath the plant but then had to pluck one of the berrries off it…when the berries were all gone…you guessed it…no more hot lip action…..boo! Happily we’ve brushed that rule under the carpet.
Here were kept up the old games of hoodman blind, shoe the wild mare, hot cockles, steal the white loaf, bob apple, and snap dragon; the Yule-clog and Christmas candle were regularly burnt, and the mistletoe with its white berries hung up, to the imminent peril of all the pretty housemaids.
‘Imminent peril’ indeed! I bet they loved it!
‘Mistletoe and Wine’ Lyrics
Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without Jim and Sheila from accounts drinking too much mulled wine and singing Cliff Richard’s, ‘Mistletoe and Wine‘ before falling into each others arms and being somewhat inappropriate for 4pm in the office reception. So here are the lyrics for you to practice before the office do. May I appologise to all your friends in advance.
The child is a King, the Caroller sing,
The old is past, there’s a new beginning.
Dreams of Santa, dreams of snow,
Fingers numb, faces aglow.
Christmas time, Mistletoe and Wine
Children singing Christian rhyme
With logs on the fire and gifts on the tree
A time to rejoice in the good that we see
A time for living, a time for believing
A time for trusting, not deceiving,
Love and laughter and joy ever after
hours for the taking, just follow the master.
Christmas time, Mistletoe and Wine
Children singing Christian rhyme
With logs on the fire and gifts in the tree
A time to rejoice in the good that we see
Mistletoe, a cure for cancer
Well it seems our ancestors were right all along. Throughout the different Kingdoms that spread across northern Europe, mistletoe was revered as having huge spiritual significance and of being a great healer. Mistletoe is now being used as one of the most successful natural medicines in the hunt for a cure for cancer. Well done mistletoe…well done scientific chaps and chapessess!
So get mistletoeing one and all!!!
Mr Bigglesworth
Image credit, Daily Mail and wikicommons.