Unravelling the mysteries of mistletoe

Some of us may find ourselves under the mistletoe for a kiss this Christmas, a tradition that not many of us know the origins of. There is plenty of mystery surrounding mistletoe, particularly as a symbol that was believed to have many powers.

In Norse Mythology, Frigg, the goddess of love, made mistletoe a symbol of affection and peace, asking that anyone standing under it be kissed to remedy a frightful experience. The Druids considered mistletoe to be a sacred plant and believed that it could cure illnesses, ensure fertility and protect against witchcraft.

Kissing under the mistletoe comes from a number of different cultures, for instance the Anglo-Saxons associated the powers of mistletoe with the goddess Freya. Legend has it that a man had to kiss any young maiden who found herself under a sprig of mistletoe. Whilst you could wait under the mistletoe for your perfect partner to come along, why not take a psychic reading and see what lies in your romantic future instead?

Image Credit: designatednaphour (flickr.com)