Christmas sees a host of century-old traditions take shape in contemporary homes, but none is quite so lighthearted (and fun) as mistletoe.
The plant, famously responsible for many kisses over the festive season, has roots in the 1st century A.D. when it was first used in ritual form by the Celtic Druids. The plant was considered a symbol of vivacity and fertility after the Druids saw it blooming throughout their cold winters. Similarly, in Norse mythology culture, mistletoe was said to represent love and peace – following the story of the goddess, Figg, who lost her son, the god Baldur, to an arrow made from the plant. Following his death, Figg vowed that Mistletoe would kiss anyone who passed beneath it – and it would never be used as a weapon again. This led to the kissing tradition as we know it today.
Growing mistletoe and using it to encourage kissing over Christmas began in England in the 18th century, according to reports. In the 300 years that have followed, the tradition has found its way into millions of homes, including Paul McCartney's, no less.
McCartney chose to hang his mistletoe in the most traditional place of all: Above his front door – creating a first impression that feels fun and, most importantly, wholly festive. Other popular mistletoe settings include on mantels and in dining rooms, where some design experts take things a step further and use to to create the perfect tablescape.
Shop the look
Growing your own mistletoe is the natural way to bring this Christmas decor to your home, but the same artificial ornament will look just as good year after year. Hang it by your door to follow McCartney's lead and enjoy this mythical tradition.
With a charming bell, this artificial mistletoe is a beautiful twist on the original. The appeal behind this decoration has already lived on for centuries, so we can invest knowing it will look just as good for many Decembers ahead.
This best-selling holiday candle offers another way to bring mistletoe's charm into your home this season, but its discreetness means it can look great on a coffee table for many months ahead (it burns for 45 hours, so you've got lots of time to enjoy this wintery scent).
When introducing mistletoe to your table, Andrea Waters, the marketing director of luxury tableware brand Portmeirion, recommends beginning by clarifying your theme and color scheme, then building on top of beautiful linen.
'All successful tablescapes start with a theme or color palette. This year, tonal colors are at the forefront of design, creating a warm and sophisticated scheme. Start with a foundation of white linen, which is the ideal blank canvas to highlight accessories,' she says.
'Introduce complementary colors through your tableware, with plates or dishes featuring a dainty festive motif that communicates your theme to guests while maintaining a timeless look. If you want just a hint of cheery Christmas red or green, choose a few pieces of statement tableware with a traditional holly, ivy, or mistletoe illustration to lift an otherwise pared-back color palette.'
Alternatively, if you want to make things appear yet more luxurious, she suggests adding gold accents that will 'punctuate your neutral scheme' and create a talking point for all your guests. 'Given that you’ll likely be hosting on more than one occasion, you can use different collections depending on the scene you want to set,' she adds. When in doubt, start with mistletoe, and rest assured that it holds similarities with a decoration in a legend's home.
