It is a parasite, which means it grows on other trees to survive. Mistletoe grows best on tall trees in sunshine; its favorite host trees include apple, hawthorn, and poplar. Mistletoe does injure the host tree, however, and can kill it.

The plant name “mistletoe” comes from two Anglo-Saxon words: “mistel,” which means dung, and “tan,” which means twig or stick. Translated, mistletoe is “poo on a stick.”

This is quite literally the case, because birds eat the red mistletoe berries and carry the seeds in their poop. If the sticky seed lands on a tree branch, it sticks and begins to grow.

The mistletoe plant begins using photosynthesis to provide the energy it needs to grow. The seedlings then burrow roots into the bark of the tree and begin to sap nutrients and water from its sponsor.

Across the world there are more than 900 mistletoe species. In some locations, certain species contribute to the habitat. Birds, deer, elk, squirrels, and porcupines seek mistletoe berries when other food is scarce.

Raw mistletoe berries are poisonous and tend to fall off the plant easily. They contain a toxic substance called phoratoxin, which is particularly concentrated in the leaves. If ingested, mistletoe can cause seizures or death. It is especially lethal to children and pets.

Mistletoe has been considered a symbol of life because it is evergreen and bears fruit in the winter. Druid priests thought it was a sacred plant because it didn’t grow from roots in the ground.

The faithful would wear mistletoe charms for good luck and protection from witches and evil spirits. Sprays of mistletoe were hung over the doorway to ward off bad spirits and to ensure that only happiness could enter the home.

The modern story of mistletoe is one of romance. Kissing under the mistletoe was first referenced in 1784 in a song from a musical comedy called Two to One.

The custom appears to have started in England around the 1720s. Mistletoe has been included in English wreaths called the “Christmas bough” or “kissing bough” since the 1700s.

In the 1800s, Washington Irving wrote, “Young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under [mistletoe], plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked, the privilege ceases.”

There were illustrations of kissing under the mistletoe in the first book version of A Christmas Carol, published in 1843.

One of the most popular mistletoe songs is “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” sung from the viewpoint of a young child catching his mother canoodling the mysterious red-clad suitor “underneath the mistletoe last night.”

The tune, written by British lyricist Tommy Connor and performed by 13-year-old Jimmy Boyd, debuted in December 1952.  

Frank Sinatra brought us “Mistletoe and Holly” in 1957 as a Capitol 7-inch single. “Mistletoe and Wine” by Cliff Richard was the biggest-selling single in 1988. Justin Bieber released a single, “Mistletoe,” in 2011.

Mistletoe, a toxic parasite, has become a nostalgic fantasy of the season. Somehow it does not seem so special under a dried-up sprig or plastic facsimile, but that kiss might be nice!

Doris Montag is a homespun historian and an exhibit curator who researches and displays historical collections of ordinary things, such as can openers, crochet, toy sewing machines, hand corn planters, powder compacts, egg cartons, and more. Contact or follow her on Facebook, HistoryofOrdinaryThings.