The celebration of mistletoe originates in Norse mythology. The story is rather dark. As legend goes, Loki, the god of mischief, tricks the god Hother into killing his blind twin brother, a beloved god named Baldur with an arrow of mistletoe.
It’s a far cry from mistletoe’s modern symbol of romance blossoming under a doorway during the holiday season.
Druids considered mistletoe magical. Later, Romans considered it a symbol of love and understanding, which explains early Christians’ observance of it as decorative and an evergreen symbol of love and fertility.
There are over one hundred species of mistletoe throughout the world, but here in southern Delaware, there is only one native species, American Mistletoe. Here, you can observe it in the treetops of hardwood trees when leaves are shed.
My husband remembers hunting for mistletoe during his childhood in Georgia and selling it at Christmas time to neighbors, even though it is often considered a nuisance to our south. It is sticky, and wind blows it like a parasite via birds that consume mistletoe’s protein-rich berries.
Jim White of the Delaware Nature Conservancy laments that while we all associate mistletoe with cheesy holiday tunes (think Mommy Kissing Santa Claus), it does not seem to be used as prevalently these days as it once was. “Folklore suggests that the plant has power over love. Whatever its origin, it always seemed like a great Christmas tradition to me,” says White. He emphasizes that mistletoe thrives in swampy environments and is often seen near wetlands and waterways in Delaware.
According to White, there was a time when mistletoe harvesting was a big deal in Delaware. Around the edges of Selbyville, along Routes 54 and 17, there is an abundance of trees embellished with mistletoe. And in what may sound like a strange tradition, mistletoe harvesting is often achieved by shooting it out of trees in some rural Sussex County farms – keeping mindful of neighborhoods and roadways, of course.
Despite it being technically evergreen, mistletoe is difficult for many people to discern. It appears in trees as big brown blobs that look as if there are remaining dead leaves stuck in an otherwise bare tree. Spotting mistletoe is more prevalent in winter months. Its white berries are a perennial favorite of robins and cedar waxings seeking precious nutrition during this time.
While there are various ways to harvest mistletoe, a popular one in recent years seems is shooting it out of trees with a rifle. If you’d rather the safety of purchasing it while choosing a Christmas tree, many local vendors will also carry mistletoe in keeping with holiday traditions.
The lure of kissing under the mistletoe likely has its roots in pagan winter solstice rituals, marking the eventual return of vegetation, and therefore fertility. The romantic tradition is believed by historians to have first appeared in America and Great Britain during the 1700s. Kissing an unsuspecting potential mate, or emphasizing love and fertility between spouses, mistletoe secured to a doorway with a red bow adds romance to the holidays and good things to come in the new year.
Next time you hear Burl Ives singing its praises, you can now share your newfound knowledge of mistletoe with friends and family. And if you haven’t considered hanging mistletoe in your home, it’s never too late to start and keep a tradition alive.
By Bridget FitzPatrick