Every December, we hang a little green plant with white berries in our doorways. If you get caught standing under it, tradition demands a kiss. It is a symbol of romance, love, and holiday cheer.
But if you knew the true nature of Mistletoe, you might scream instead of pucker up.
The reality is that this “romantic” plant is actually a poisonous, tree-killing parasite with a name that literally translates to “poop on a stick.”
Here is the untold story of the weirdest plant of the holiday season.
1. The Name Literally Means “Dung Twig”
The word Mistletoe comes from two Anglo-Saxon words: “Mistel” (which means dung) and “Tan” (which means twig). So, quite literally, it translates to “Dung Twig.”
Why? Because of how it spreads.
Mistletoe seeds are coated in a sticky goo. When birds eat the berries, they fly to other trees and poop out the seeds. The seeds stick to the branches of the new tree, allowing the plant to grow. Ancient people noticed that mistletoe always appeared where birds had left their droppings, leading to its rather unromantic name.
2. It Is a Vampire of the Forest
While we treat it as a decoration, trees treat it as a disease. Mistletoe is a hemiparasite.
It doesn’t grow in the ground like a normal plant. Instead, it sinks its roots deep into the bark of a host tree (like an oak or apple tree) and hijacks its plumbing. It sucks water and nutrients directly out of the host tree’s veins.
If too much mistletoe grows on a single tree, it can stunt the tree’s growth or even kill it entirely. So, when you kiss under the mistletoe, you are essentially kissing under a biological vampire.
3. The Kissing Tradition Started with a Murder
Why do we kiss under a parasite? The answer lies in Norse Mythology.
According to legend, the god Baldur (son of Odin and Frigga) was prophesied to die. His mother, Frigga, went to every animal, plant, and rock on Earth and made them promise not to hurt her son.
However, she forgot to ask the small, harmless Mistletoe.
Loki, the god of mischief, found out and made an arrow out of a mistletoe branch. He tricked Baldur’s blind brother into shooting it, killing the beloved god instantly.
Frigga was heartbroken. Her tears turned into the white berries of the plant. In some versions of the myth, the gods were able to bring Baldur back to life. Overjoyed, Frigga declared that mistletoe would no longer be a symbol of death, but of love, and promised to kiss anyone who passed beneath it.
4. It Was Sacred to the Druids
Long before Christmas, the ancient Druids of the British Isles held mistletoe in high regard—specifically the rare kind that grew on sacred oak trees.
They believed it had mystical healing powers and could ward off evil spirits. During the winter solstice, Druid priests would climb the oaks and cut the mistletoe down with a golden sickle, catching it in a white cloak before it hit the ground.
They would then hang it over their doors for protection—a tradition that survived thousands of years to become our modern holiday decoration.
Conclusion
So, next time you find yourself standing under that little green sprig, remember: you aren’t just taking part in a holiday rom-com moment.
You are celebrating a dung-spread, tree-killing parasite that was once used to murder a Norse god. And honestly? That makes the story a whole lot more interesting.
Did this ruin your Christmas or make it better? Read more strange holiday origins in our History category or check out other Nature oddities.
