In Europe, the Druids and other ancient peoples believed that mistletoe possessed supernatural powers because it remained green in winter when the trees lost their leaves. Because of this, the Druids used mistletoe for sacred rituals during the winter solstice. It was believed that mistletoe was a symbol of vitality and fertility.
In the Middle Ages, it was believed that mistletoe had a variety of magical properties such as stopping the trances of epileptics and keeping witches at bay, and warding off evil. It wasn’t until the 18th or 19th centuries that the plant began to make its way into homes for holiday celebrations.
The kissing
custom may date to at least the 1500s in Europe. It was practiced in the
early United States: Washington Irving referred to it in “Christmas Eve,” from
his 1820 collection of essays and stories, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey
Crayon, Gent. Some believe that after a man and woman kiss beneath
the mistletoe, the man is supposed to remove one of the plant’s berries. Once
the berries are all gone, there should be no more kissing beneath the
mistletoe.
Another mistletoe custom involves young women placing a
sprig beneath their pillows at night so they’ll dream about the man they’ll
someday marry. In the morning, they’re supposed to burn the mistletoe, and if
the flames burn steadily, they will have a happy marriage. (On the downside, a
weak fire means the marriage will be an unhappy one.)
Named for its seed, the word “mistletoe” is
derived from two Anglo-Saxon words that meant “dung-on-a-twig.” When
birds eat the
plant’s berries, they don’t digest them, so when
bird droppings fall on a tree or shrub, the seeds take root. Birds also help
disperse the seeds by wiping their beaks on tree bark to clean off the seeds
that stick after a meal. The berry’s sticky juice helps the steeds remain on
the tree instead of falling to the ground. There are 1,300 mistletoe species,
and 20 of them are endangered. The continental United States and
Canada are home to more than 30 species, and Hawaii harbors another six. Globally, more than 20 mistletoe species
are endangered.
Three kinds of
U.S. butterflies depend on mistletoe
for survival: the great purple hairstreak, the thicket hairstreak and the
Johnson’s hairstreak. These butterflies lay eggs on mistletoe, and their young
eat the leaves. The adults of all three species feed on mistletoe nectar, as do
some species of native bees.
While
mistletoe doesn't always kill its host tree (like apple, lime, poplar,
sycamore, ash and hawthorn), it often
reduces the tree's growth and can kill the branch where it resides. The mistletoe’s white berries are favored during autumn and winter—when other
foods are scarce—by mammals ranging from deer and elk to squirrels, chipmunks and porcupines.
Once mistletoe infects a tree, mistletoe is difficult to remove. When its seeds sprout, they grow through the bark of trees and into their tissues, extending up and down within the branches. Even if you cut off the visible portion of the invader, new plants often grow from inside the host. The most effective way to fight it is to remove an infected branch or limb entirely.
Many bird species, such as robins, chickadees, bluebirds, and mourning doves, also eat the
berries. The plant is poisonous to dogs and
cats and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and even death. Mistletoe is toxic to
humans, and can cause blurred vision, drowsiness, vomiting, a slowed heartbeat, and seizures.
Despite its dangers, mistletoe has a history of medicinal use. The European varieties have been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat seizures, headaches, infertility, hypertension, and arthritis. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, mistletoe injections are available only in clinical trials in the U.S., but are available by prescription in Europe, where the plant is used to combat colon cancer.
“What does Christmas remind you of? [Does it remind you of] mistletoe, holly, Christmas tree, eggnog, Christmas pudding, and so
many wonderful things. When the heart is happy, Christmas can never be dull.
It's not just about feasting and fun. It's also a time for happy reunions with
family and friends.” (Anonymous)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“7
surprising facts about mistletoe” By Amanda Schupak
·
“12 Things to Know about Mistletoe” by Roger Di Silvestro
·
“5 fascinating things you (probably) didn’t know
about mistletoe” By Megan Shersby
·
“8 things
you didn't know about mistletoe” by Laura Moss
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