There are a tremendous numbers of mistletoe traditions and legends - so these pages will only cover a few aspects...

The most obvious tradition is the kissing one. Hanging mistletoe and kissing loved ones, or complete strangers, below it is hugely popular Christmas custom.

It is probably a remnant of an ancient fertility tradition, helped along by some British re-invention in the 18th and 19th centuries. The European mistletoe, as a parasitic plant growing on deciduous trees, can be seen as a symbol of the continuing 'life-force' (and vitality/fertility) of the tree through the winter.

The fertility image is completed by European mistletoe’s shape and form – the forking paired branches, paired leaves and berries full of white sticky juice hint of sexual imagery.

The modern tradition may be more to with 18th century fashions to promote druidic ideas than a genuine national tradition. It is curious that it is very British, hardly practised abroad except for English-speaking countries, but particularly popular in North America.

There the custom is similar, but local species of American mistletoe - Phoradendron - are used. Like our mistletoe, these are evergreen and white-berried but they differ in leaf shape and branching patterns – and so do not have the full ‘sexual’ connection.  Nobody seems to worry about that though!