Have you ever wondered how some holiday traditions got started? I know starting out that many will date back to Europe and most will have their roots deep in ancient beliefs.

The association between mistletoe and Christmas is no exception. And just like many things in America, the practice draws upon many cultures.

First there were the Greeks. Who believed in the mystical powers of mistletoe. You see, all across Europe, the oak was worshiped and mistletoe grew on the oak. Better yet, when the might oak dropped its leaves, the mistletoe clinging to it remained green. Thus it was assumed it had absorbed some of the oak’s power. This power was lost if it touched the ground. But it was assumed to cure many diseases, cure fertility.

Fast forward to the Celts, who would cut mistletoe on both the summer and winter solstice. The mistletoe clinging to the oak was the most sought after but I guess any would do in a pinch. Again, there was a belief in fertility as well as other medicinal benefits. Furthermore, mistletoe was so venerated that if soldiers encountered it in the woods, they would stop their fighting.

Over time, mistletoe’s magic properties extended to protection against witchcraft, evil and fire.

But where did the kissing come in?

We find a glimmer of the answer in the Norse cultures. Frigga (Goddess of Love) so loved her son Balder (God of the Summer Sun). According legend, Loki tricked the God of winter into killing Balder with an arrow made of mistletoe. Frigga was able to bring him back but that her tears became the white berries on the mistletoe and that she kisses everyone who passes underneath in honor of her joy.

Originally the custom seemed to have been that when a kiss was exchanged under the mistletoe, a berry had to be plucked from the sprig. And when the berries ran out, so too did the kissing. Apparently, the tradition is dying out and I’ve never hung mistletoe during the holidays, but maybe I’ll pick up a bag this year.