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There's more to mistletoe than just kissing...


Traditional uses vary, and many are very ancient.
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Mistletoe Traditions
There are a tremendous number of mistletoe traditions and legends - and these pages can only cover a few aspects...
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The most obvious tradition is the kissing one. Hanging mistletoe and kissing loved ones, or complete strangers, under it is hugely popular Christmas custom.
It is 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.
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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!
The kissing custom has led to lots of mistletoe imagery - mostly humorous, and often very suggestive. There's more on mistletoe imagery in the Mistletoe Art pages - but here are a few more humorous, kissing, or simply suggestive, mistletoe pictures:
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Quick links |
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Want to buy mistletoe? Visit:
Need news about mistletoe? Try: 
Looking for mistletoe advice, or a speaker? Try

Interested in Mistletoe Events? Visit:
For mistletoe cards, tees, mugs etc visit 
Want to Grow Your Own? Get advice here, or buy a grow-kit

Coming soon - links to:
The Mistletoe Picture Library
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