Mistletoe and its fertility power. / myLot

Greece

December 10, 2015 7:22am CST

Will mistletoe be part of your Christmas decorations? If so you are following an ancient tradition, since mistletoe is a herb that was valued by Greeks and Romans, for medical reasons in their case. It was perhaps the Celtic Druids who turned it into a romantic symbol. They believed that it had powers to enhance fertility and early Christian celebrations banned mistletoe because of its pagan roots. Interestingly the scientific name for American mistletoe is Phorodendron which means ‘thief of the tree’ based on it being a parasitic plant. The Christmas tradition now uses it as an opportunity in which a man can steal a kiss from any woman he finds standing under mistletoe. A rather nice turn of events .

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4 responses

Marlina

@marlina (154103)

• Canada

10 Dec 15

Thanks for the information on the mistletoe. I have never used it and was never kissed under a mistletoe.

1 person likes this

mistletoe

41Combedale

@41CombedaleRoad (5966)

• Greece

11 Dec 15

I don't think I have been kissed under the mistletoe either, or if I was it was not memorable.

Arthur Chappell

@arthurchappell (44941)

• Preston, England

11 Dec 15

so many men get really lecherous and touchy feely when they get hold of mistletoe much to the revulsion of any ladies in their path

41Combedale

@41CombedaleRoad (5966)

• Greece

11 Dec 15

Yes, that is true and women may eye the mistletoe with less favour than men. Maybe women have enough kisses throughout the year and have no need for the extra unwanted ones under the mistletoe.

1 person likes this

Arthur Chappell

@arthurchappell (44941)

• Preston, England

11 Dec 15

@41CombedaleRoad absolutely true - I have never used mistletoe as a license to grope and kiss

41Combedale

@41CombedaleRoad (5966)

• Greece

12 Dec 15

@arthurchappell Spoken like an English gentleman.