Have you ever stepped underneath a mistletoe and surreptitiously walked away to avoid any curious glances? Or perhaps you did it on purpose to capture an affectionate moment with your loved one? Whatever the case may be, the history behind this tradition continuously evolved to include legends of folklore, romance, and gods and demons.
In Norse mythology, Baldur, the son of the god Thor, had a paranoid feeling that the plants and animals were plotting to kill him. In order to relieve him from these concerns, his wife and mother blessed every plant and animal, begging for their kindness. However, they made a fatal mistake, they forgot the mistletoe! As a result, Baldur was shot and killed by the mistletoe plant. The lesson from this legend is to pay recognition to the mistletoe in remembrance of Baldur’s death.
In Druid mythology, the mistletoe is a symbol of magic and fertility.
However, to understand the meaning behind the mistletoe, it is important to know its evolutionary history. Mistletoe evolved from an ancient sandalwood that would take the nutrients from the roots of the trees. However, in order to complete for the other plants for sunlight, sandalwood evolved mistletoe that was able to grow up the trees’ branches to gain energy. Birds would consume the berries, further spreading the seeds.
So in a way, stealing a kiss under the mistletoe is similar to how the sun kisses the mistletoe, providing energy and rejuvenation.
Featured in December 10, 1909 Perth Amboy Evening News.
(Contributed by Kristi Chanda)
Source:
Mistletoe: The Evolution of a Christmas Tradition. (2011, December 21). Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/mistletoe-the-evolution-of-a-christmas-tradition-10814188/.