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Soon comes the jolly Christmas season, a time when many thoughts turn to … mistletoe?
That’s likely because this plant is closely associated with the season of Santa – standing under mistletoe and waiting to be kissed is a tradition going back to the 1880s in North America.
However, if you stand under wild mistletoe, you might expect something other than a kiss — more likely a splat as birds eat the juicy berries and pass them through their digestive tracts.
That may be the reality, but legends die hard and there’s still the hopeful belief that being kissed under mistletoe increases the possibility of marriage in the coming year.
Wild mistletoe grows from New Jersey to Florida and west through Texas. Its seeds germinate on the bark of trees and then send roots into sap-conducting tissues. Many mistletoe species are only partly parasitic since their leaves enable them to manufacture their own food once they have used water and nutrients from their host trees.
The mistletoe plant is considered a pest by some folks since it can slow tree growth and even break branches. On the other hand, it is a keystone species that many forest creatures utilize for food and shelter. Many animals eat the leaves, shoots and berries, and squirrels sometimes nest among the leaves.
Since mistletoe remains green in the dead of winter, it has inspired legends about woodland spirits which are sheltered by the plant. It was used by ancient Europeans in rituals seeking peace, safety, health, good luck and fertility. That’s a pretty heavy load for one little plant.
So don’t disrespect the humble mistletoe. There are more than one thousand species of the plant worldwide and it is found on all continents except Antarctica. I hope if you stand under mistletoe this festive season, you’ll receive a warm kiss from a loved one — not a splat from a bothersome bird.
Mistletoe in an evergreen plant that has inspired kisses to legends, and even rituals about luck, health, safety and peace. Photo from Metro Creative
