Why do we kiss under the misletoe?

For years, the innocent mistletoe plant has been thought of as a plant with romantic qualities. Ancient Druids once considered mistletoe to be sacred. They believed that mistletoe could cure sickness and protect its owner from evil spirits. The Druids would harvest mistletoe with a special golden sickle, reserved for this purpose only, at the winter solstice, which is a few days before what we now celebrate as Christmas. Because mistletoe was so sacred, the Druids would not allow the plant to touch the ground. They would hang mistletoe over their doorways and entrances, believing that this would help protect the safety and health of all who passed through, as well as promote romance and fertility. They also believed that if a man kissed a woman under the mistletoe and gave a white berry from the plant to the woman, the couple would get married within the next year.

Happy holidays!

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