We don't do a lot of Christmas decorating but we still have some basics including mistletoe, poinsettia, Christmas tree, branches for a wreath, nutcrackers... but if you ask me why? My best answer is: "It's festive (*add a big smile*)." So, here's my 12-day exploration featuring etegami to look at where these traditions came from!
Day 1: Mistletoe.
Why kiss under a mistletoe? Why not a holly?
First, what is mistletoe: The name originated as "mistel"+"tan"= dung + stick
It's a parasite that is spread through bird poop. How romantic.
Now a brief overview of the tradition: It symbolized love and friendship in European folklore, then in the Middle Ages was hung in homes for good luck and protection against evil spirits.
Kissing under it began in England, since mistletoe was attached to "Kissing Boughs"(basically a spherical version of a wreath) around wintertime .
From England, the tradition migrated with people to America. Then fast forward hundreds of years, I'm giddy this year to discover preserved mistletoe at Trader Joe's! My first mistletoe!
Hang your mistletoe, erase "dung stick" from your mind, and enjoy the tradition of love and friendship.