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lelah | December 10, 2008 02:18 AM | in Holidays

Where did the tradition of hanging mistletoe at Christmas come from?

Also, it is really poisonous?

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BEST ANSWER chosen by asker | jasoncalacanis | December 10, 2008 02:38 AM

Apparently, mistletoe has had a long history from Greek mythology and on to Druids of the ancient Celts who worshiped it.

A whole chapter is dedicated to it in Legends and Lore of Texas Wildflowers
By Elizabeth Silverthorne:
http://books.google.com/books?id=w_hKCayJzOoC&pg=PA99

According to the book above, English boys hung it over doorways and kissed girls who walked under it. Charles Dickens put this in the book the Pickwick Papers and it took off from there.

The Handy-book of Literary Curiosities has a similar story:
http://books.google.com/books?id=hrJkAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA732

Wikipedia claims the tradition is "Scandinavian in origin."

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jennybeanses | December 10, 2008 02:32 AM

The ancient Druids of Britain and Gaul used to harvest Mistletoe from its host tees during the Winter Solstice celebrations. They actually believed that the mistletoe harbored the spirit of the tree that hosted it. They would cut it down from the trees and catch it, never allowing it to touch the ground. Afterwards they would distribute it to the village people, who in turn hung it over their doors to ward off bad tidings and evil spirits.

All parts of the mistletoe plant are poisonous, especially the leaves, but it has also been used in cancer research and medication for several years.

source(s):
http://www.candlegrove.com/mistletoe.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002883.htm
http://mahalo.com/Christmas_Mistletoe

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