Hanging from an archway or lintel in many homes is a sprig of mistletoe. Kissing beneath it has been a long-standing holiday tradition. But why?
To answer that, we must first answer the question: What is mistletoe? Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that comes from bird droppings and grows on various trees. Mistletoe attaches itself to the “host” tree, sucking water and nutrients from it. The name “mistletoe” is derived from two Anglo Saxon words: Mistel which means “dung,” and Tan which means “stick or branch.” (Middle English speakers apparently confused tan as the plural of ta, “toe,” which is how we ultimately get mistletoe). So mistletoe is basically a “dung-twig” or “poo-stick.”
Not very appealing, is it? So how did mistletoe become a popular Christmas decoration and occasion for kissing? Zack Sterkenberg provides a succinct answer in his article, “The KISStory of Mistletoe”:
The consensus among experts is that the use of Mistletoe in ritual form started with the Celtic Druids. This ancient civilization of people lived on the British Isles in what is now Ireland and Scotland. The Mistletoe became a sacred symbol of vivacity and fertility to the Druids after they saw it blooming in the trees during the harsh winters.
As noted on the History.com website,
Another famous chapter in mistletoe folklore comes from Norse mythology. As the story goes, when the god Odin’s son Baldur was prophesied to die, his mother Frigg, the goddess of love, went to all the animals and plants of the natural world to secure an oath that they would not harm him. But Frigg neglected to consult with the unassuming mistletoe, so the scheming god Loki made an arrow from the plant and saw that it was used to kill the otherwise invincible Baldur.
Mistletoe’s associations with fertility and vitality continued through the Middle Ages, and by the 18th century it had become widely incorporated into Christmas celebrations. Just how it made the jump from sacred herb to holiday decoration remains up for debate, but the kissing tradition appears to have first caught on among servants in England before spreading to the middle classes. As part of the early custom, men were allowed to steal a kiss from any woman caught standing under the mistletoe, and refusing was viewed as bad luck. Yet another tradition instructed the merrymakers to pluck a single berry from the mistletoe with each kiss, and to stop smooching once they were all gone.
In light of mistletoe’s origin and history, Zack Sterkenberg ends his article on a humorous note, saying, “So next time you find yourself puckering up under the Mistletoe, remember that it all started with bird droppings, a parasite, barbarians, and a Norse goddess. Cheers!”
That’s pretty funny, and the sarcasm is certainly warranted, but I think we can end this article on a more positive note. To do that, we have to look no further than the cross. It too has an unsavory past — far worse than Mistletoe, because the cross was an instrument of torture and death, slowly sucking the life out of its victims.
But because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross — forgiveness of sin and the free gift of eternal life for all who believe in him — the cross has become an object of delight rather than disgust. This is the theme of George Bennard’s classic hymn, The Old Rugged Cross. The lyrics are familiar to us, but I would encourage you to read over them slowly and reflectively once again:
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
Even the practice of kissing under the Mistletoe has a parallel to the significance of the cross. Psalm 85:10 says, “righteousness and peace kiss each other.” A kiss was a common form of greeting in ancient times and is still practiced in many cultures today. So this verse pictures two friends who have been separated for a long time, but now they are coming together again. That’s what happened at the cross of Christ. Up until that point, the righteousness of God was opposed to peace on earth on account of humanity’s sin. But Jesus came to bring reconciliation between heaven and earth. That’s why, when the angel announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)
At the cross, righteousness and peace kissed each other, because Jesus reconciled the world to God. Through faith in him, we experience peace with God and the forgiveness of our sins (Romans 5:1). Because of Jesus’ substitutionary work on our behalf, God declares us to be righteous — not because of what we’ve done but because of who He is (Eph. 2:8-9).
The “kiss” of righteousness and peace took place at the cross. That’s why this “emblem of suffering and shame” has become a symbol of love to us.
Think about that the next time you kiss a loved one under the mistletoe.