What is the Origin of the Traditional Mistletoe Kiss?
Who doesn’t love hanging mistletoe? Although most mistletoe is parasitic, and, therefore, harmful to the trees on which it grows, the Celts thought it had magical powers for healing wounds and increasing fertility, so they placed it throughout their homes for good luck and to ward off evil spirits.
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In ancient Britain, mistletoe was considered so sacred that it could only be cut with a golden sickle. Today, Americans decorate door frames with this plant in hopes of catching a smooch from a sweetheart while standing under its leaves. This tradition is credited to Frigga, the Scandinavian goddess of love and beauty, and is said to date back to the eighth century.
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