The Story Behind Mistletoe
—Courtney Turner, Environmental Educator
Photo credit: UTK Dept. of Plant Sciences.
Have you ever wondered how mistletoe became a part of our holiday traditions?
There are many tales about mistletoe but the earliest reference to kissing under the mistletoe comes from an old story out of Norse mythology. The story goes like this--Baldur, the god of the summer sun, has a dream that he will die. He tells his mother, the beautiful goddess Frigga, about his dream. Ever the protective mother, Frigga visits every plant and animal on earth and asks them to promise not to harm her son. But Frigga forgets to visit one plant--the mistletoe.
How could Frigga visit every plant on earth but forget about mistletoe?
Let's take a short break from our story to consider this plant. All types of mistletoe--from the American variety to the one that grows in the Nordic lands of Frigga and Baldur--are parasitic. The mistletoe plant does, in fact, perform photosynthesis and produce its own chlorophyll (placing it in the category of hemiparasites) but cannot acquire all of the nutrients necessary to live and thrive without the help of a host plant. With the use of specialized roots called haustoria, the mistletoe plant penetrates a host plant's tissue (most commonly an oak or apple tree) and draws water and minerals from it, thus satisfying its nutritional needs. With photosynthesizing leaves and roots that can penetrate tree bark, mistletoe is found growing high up in the canopy, well out of sight of the casual bystander or Norse goddess.
We can understand a bit better now how Frigga could overlook the mistletoe plant, so we return to our tale. Realizing Frigga's oversight, the mischievous god Loki fashions an arrow out of the plant, which he then uses to kill Baldur. Nevertheless, after a great effort, Frigga is able to revive her son from death. Weeping tears of joy, Frigga proclaims that from that time forward, no harm will befall anyone who finds themselves beneath the mistletoe, but that instead they will receive a kiss, a token of love.
As you enjoy the season's festivities, remember this tale of Baldur and Frigga, lest you get caught unsuspectingly beneath the mistletoe!
Happy Holidays!
Photo credit: thehort.org
How does mistletoe grow high up in the tree branches in the first place?
In the winter, mistletoe produces white berries filled with seeds and sticky juice that are enjoyed by many bird species. When the birds eat the berries, the sticky juice filled with mistletoe seeds sticks to their beaks and feet which later get wiped on tree branches where the seeds stick and germinate.
