The best-known ancient mistletoe myths are the Norse and Greek legends. The Norse God Balder was slain by an arrow of mistletoe, soon after everything living or growing in the earth had sworn not to harm him. In Greece, Aeneas was guided to the abode of the dead by plucking the ‘Golden Bough’ of mistletoe.

The Norse myths give a significant, and deadly, role to mistletoe. There are various versions and variations, but the commonest variation runs along these lines:

Balder was a popular and righteous God, but in a dream he foresaw his own death. After discussing this with the other Gods in Valhalla, the Goddess Frigga offered to make all things living on the earth, or growing in the earth, promise not to harm him.

This was done, and resulted in a new sport for the Gods - 'slaying' Balder with whatever weapons they could find. They knew he would always survive. During one of these sessions the evil God Loki offered to help Hod, a blind God, join in. Knowing that mistletoe, which did not grow 'in' the earth, was not covered by the promise. Loki gave Hod an arrow of mistletoe wood and directed his throw. Balder was killed by the blow, thus fulfilling his dream. A period of significant mourning followed, during which Hel was visited in an effort to resurrect Balder, and mistletoe was designated a plant of peace

In Greek myth, Aeneas, having resisted the charms of Dido at Carthage, went in search of his father Anchises, in the abode of the dead. In order to make his way to and from Avernus, he was advised by the Sibyl that he must first seek and pluck the 'golden bough' from a tree in the forest.

He was guided to the bough by doves sent by Venus, his mother, and found the branch. He successfully visited his father, and returned.

This 'golden bough' is assumed by many writers and scholars to be mistletoe. Certainly Viscum album often appears golden in the winter months. The 'Golden Bough' became famous as a symbol of myth and legend when Sir James Frazer used it as the title of his monumental work on magic and religion in 1922.