I recently subbed in Middle School (6th grade, to be precise), and was able to observe a Holiday Trivia contest between the classes. One of the questions surprised me - asking the color of the berries on mistletoe.
"My" class determined it to be red, and I chuckled to myself, knowing that the correct answer is white, and they were confusing it with holly.
Teacher help was not allowed, so I waited until after the answers had been turned in to chime in about mistletoe.
Later that aftternoon, a student returned to inform me that I was wrong, and the correct answer is red. After consulting with the other teachers, and a little googling, it was determined that the traditional plant we see during the holidays does, in fact, have white berries. As a professed Druid, I was relieved. Apparently, there is also some new hybrid that has yellow leaves, and red berries. The Druid in me was not impressed.
The ancient Celts considered mistletoe sacred, and believed it to have magical powers. Why not? To them, it must have been quite magical to see a "plant" that does not grow from the ground. (Mistletoe is parasitical, and attaches itself to trees.)
As time went on, sprigs of mistletoe were hung above the entry ways of homes as a protective amulet against such demonic forces as witches and devils. Mistletoe was also hung inside barns to protect livestock.
The Christmas tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is thought to have happened as result of the season when mistletoe is available, and because the entrance of the home is where greetings and welcome kisses are commonly exchanged.
Whatever your reason for hanging mistletoe, here's hoping your holiday will be joyful.
Later,
Mrs. O'R
