Fresh mistletoe is truly a magical Christmas decoration. Hang mistletoe in doorways and from your chandelier to spread its charm of love, peace, and goodwill. The smooth green leaves and soft, pearly white berries are a natural holiday touch that fake sprigs just can’t imitate. The holiday spirit of the plant aside, there’s also a lot of lore, history, and light-hearted traditions associated with using live mistletoe that make it all the more enchanting.

History, Legends, and Folklore of Mistletoe

Mistletoe is one of the oldest Christmas traditions around, predating even Christmas trees, stockings, and Saint Nick. It’s also been believed to have mystical powers in a variety of cultures. Druids were Celtic priests that lived over two thousand years ago, and in their traditions, mistletoe was a very powerful plant. Druids saw mistletoe to bring luck, protect against evil, and as a cure for many illnesses. The plant was commonly found growing high in oak trees, which was proof to the druids that it was a gift from the gods, sent to earth to thrive without roots between the world of heaven and earth.

The Norse also had a legend about mistletoe. Balder, a god, was made immortal by being protected against every weapon except for a weapon made of mistletoe. Loki, another god, used this knowledge and killed Balder by shooting him with a mistletoe dart. After Balder’s death, mistletoe became a symbol of love and friendship. Balder’s mother declared that instead of harming someone under the plant, you should kiss them. The legend of kissing under the mistletoe was born, and has been one of the most popular mistletoe traditions ever since.

Fresh Mistletoe from the Forest

Fresh mistletoe is also a lovely decoration because it brings the great outdoors into your home during a time of year when everything is cold and dreary outside. The curly-edged leaves and snowy white berries make a romantic addition to your holiday decor, with none of the prickly artificial elements. Mistletoe is an interesting plant, as it’s a parasite that grows on the branches of other trees. Oaks and apple trees are its favorite hosts. Harvesting mistletoe is a skilled process, as it only grows in the canopy, and careful harvesters prune branches without harming the host tree.

Collectors either use long poles with hooks on the ends, or climb the trees to hand clip little sprigs of mistletoe. After it’s been cut, fresh mistletoe stays fresh and beautiful for weeks. As long as it’s kept cool and out of direct sunlight or heaters, the plant will stay healthy and hydrated. Some mistletoe enthusiasts will even mist it with water to give it some extra moisture. When used as a decoration, fresh mistletoe will last from early December through New Year’s, making your home bright and cheerful all season long.

Natural is Nice

Artificial mistletoe may be easier to find at the store, but real mistletoe brings an extra-special touch to your holiday decorations. The subtle scent, soft leaves, and glistening white berries just can’t be imitated. Live greenery also creates a cohesive, harmonious look to your holiday decor when you mix it with holly, pine boughs, and evergreen garlands. You can use fresh mistletoe in ways that artificial greens and berries just won’t do. And, when you choose the real thing, you support local harvesters and small nurseries. Many nurseries and farms harvest mistletoe for the holiday market, pruning the plant in a sustainable way that can actually benefit the host tree.

Get Festive with Fresh Mistletoe

The most traditional place to hang mistletoe is over a doorway, so that guests can pause for a kiss or enjoy the plant’s festive spirit before they enter your home. But, you can use this plant in lots of other ways. Tuck sprigs into wreaths for a romantic accent, or make a centerpiece for your dining room table with mistletoe and other natural elements. You can even make mistletoe gift toppers by twisting a small bundle together with a ribbon or piece of jute. Add the package to your wrapped gifts for an easy, rustic accent.

You can also create a mistletoe kissing ball by gathering your mistletoe together with other fresh seasonal greenery like cedar, pine, or boxwood. Secure your kissing ball with a ribbon or bow, and you have a beautiful, festive hanging decoration. Fresh mistletoe can be used as a small or large accent, but there’s something homey and cozy about this natural plant that no other holiday greenery can match.

Season’s Greetings and Kisses with Fresh Mistletoe

As you guessed, kissing under the mistletoe is the most famous mistletoe tradition. Kissing under the mistletoe was a common custom throughout England in the 1700s, and was seen as romantic and neighborly. In some places, it was even a rule that a man could kiss any woman he wanted under the mistletoe, and every time they kissed, he was to remove a berry from the plant. When all the berries were gone, no more kisses were allowed.

Thankfully, those rules have relaxed a little over the centuries, and today kissing under the mistletoe is a symbol of love and friendship. It’s become a fun holiday tradition that represents romance, or a lighthearted moment of connection between friends and family. It’s a time to pause and enjoy a moment, and express your love to those you care about.

Fun Fact File

• Mistletoe is an important winter food source for many species of birds. Birds also help spread mistletoe seeds.
• The name “mistletoe” means “dung on a twig” in Old English, because the plant spreads its seeds in bird droppings. The modern holiday name is much more festive!
• Enemies who met beneath the mistletoe sometimes declared a truce in its name. In those cases, it was considered a symbol of peace.
• Extracts of mistletoe are used in some medical research today, for their potential health benefits.

Safety Note

Mistletoe berries are poisonous and shouldn’t be eaten. If you have pets or young children, make sure to keep them out of reach of mistletoe. If you’re concerned, you can easily pluck the berries from the plant before using it as a decoration. Or, you can hang mistletoe out of reach, where it can’t be touched by small children or pets. Always handle mistletoe carefully, and wash your hands after touching it.


Fresh mistletoe is one of the oldest and most charming holiday traditions. It’s a magical reminder of nature, history, and togetherness. In our modern, hectic, technological world, it’s a special touch to slow down and enjoy a small, natural piece of the holiday spirit. A bundle of fresh mistletoe transforms an ordinary doorway into a place where love and laughter are celebrated, and new memories are made.

Skip the plastic sprigs and choose real mistletoe this Christmas. Hang a few sprigs of mistletoe above your front door, or add it to your holiday centerpiece. Tuck little sprigs of mistletoe into a wreath for a romantic touch, or make your own gift toppers with mistletoe and ribbon. Fresh mistletoe has a way of bringing authenticity and warmth to every room it touches. And, who knows? It might even start a kiss, a smile, or a fond memory that will last long after the holidays are over.