Why are mistletoe, holly and ivy popular at Christmas?

This festive season you’re likely to see people decking their halls with boughs of holly and stealing kisses under mistletoe. Have you’ve ever wondered how plants like mistletoe, holly, and ivy became associated with Christmas, and what the history behind them is? If you have, we’re here to answer your questions.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe is a parasitic evergreen plant with green leaves and white berries that typically grows on apple, lime, hawthorn, and poplar trees. When you’re out walking in Hampshire’s countryside, look for large balls of it hanging from the bare branches of these host trees. You’re most likely to see mistletoe growing in gardens, parks, churchyards and even orchards.

While its berries are poisonous to humans, the plant has come to be a symbol of love and friendship, vitality, and fertility, with this folklore dating back at least to 1 century AD with the Celtic Druids. Due to the plant’s evergreen nature, the Druids viewed mistletoe as a symbol of fertility and administered it to humans and animals alike. We wouldn’t recommend this as they aren’t safe to be eaten by humans.

Another famous part of mistletoe’s mythology comes from the Norse gods. It’s said that Frigg, the goddess of love, learned that her son Baldur was prophesied to die and so begged all of the animals and plants not to harm him. Unfortunately, Frigg didn’t think to ask mistletoe, as she thought it to be a harmless and unassuming plant. So, the trickster god Loki crafted an arrow from the plant and used it to kill Baldur. One version of this myth states that Baldur was able to be brought back to life. Upon seeing this, Frigg decreed that mistletoe was now a symbol of love and that she would kiss anyone who walked underneath it. Nowadays, it’s a tradition to encourage couples who walk beneath a hung sprig to kiss. It’s not entirely known how this tradition became linked with Christmas, however in the eighteenth century it was popular among servants. The rules at this time said one kiss could be traded per berry plucked from the plant.

Holly and ivy

You’ve probably heard the traditional Christmas carol ‘The Holly and the Ivy’, which has been a staple of choirs since the early nineteenth century. So, it’ll come as no surprise that holly and ivy have been linked with Christmas and winter festivities for centuries.

During winter solstice celebrations, holly, ivy, and other evergreen plants were brought inside. This was because the greenery was thought to ward off evil spirits and celebrate new growth.

This tradition continued long after Christmas became popular. Did you know that the name Christmas tree wasn’t specifically associated with fir trees until Victorian times? Until then, it was used to refer to the holly plant. The Victorians also loved ivy. In fact, Queen Victoria is said to have worn ivy, interwoven with diamonds, in her hair.

If you’re looking for a seasonal alternative to fir trees to hang your baubles on, be careful, as it’s considered to be bad luck to cut down a whole holly tree. Bringing holly or ivy inside before Christmas Eve is also thought to be unlucky.