In ancient times, the mistletoe was thought of as the plant of peace and friendship. If enemies met under a tree on which mistletoe grew, they would lay down their arms and call a truce for the rest of the day. If friends met beneath a tree bearing mistletoe, they would consider their friendship to be blessed with good luck.

Kissing under the mistletoe has come from a custom that was once found only in England. Foreign visitors to England in the sixteenth century were often surprised how often man and woman exchanged kisses in greeting and in parting. Perhaps it was this practice, as well as the belief that mistletoe was a plant of friendship, that led to the Christmas tradition.

A large bough of mistletoe would be picked to form the centre of a huge garland to be hung in a room or hall. Any young woman who stood beneath the garland (or kissing bough) would expect to receive a kiss. It would bring her luck and ensure her of marriage. She also had the right to pluck a berry from the mistletoe for every kiss she received. Once the sprig had no more berries, it was no longer lucky to kiss under it. After Twelfth Night the mistletoe would be burned, otherwise the young men and women who kissed under it might never marry.

In some places one sprig of mistletoe would be put away to be kept all year to bring luck to the household. If a baby was born, a piece of the mistletoe would be placed in the cradle to keep the child from harm. Sometimes a sprig of mistletoe would be given to a cow that had calved to bring good luck to the herd.

An ancient name for mistletoe is �the wood of the holy cross.� Mistletoe was never taken into a church at any time. This was because of a legend that tells how mistletoe wood was used to make a cross on which Christ died. Afterwards, all mistletoe shrank to its present size in shame and anguish.

Mistletoe was also very important to the Druids. The Arch Druid was said to cut the mistletoe with a golden sickle every November. It was caught in a white cloth by four virgins and utilised in the ritual sacrifice of white oxen, thought to be an alternative to human sacrifice.