Merry Mistletoe!

 

Mistletoe has always had a certain . . . reputation around the holidays.  Christmas trees are nice, but mistletoe’s naughty.  American author Washington Irving was writing about it two hundred years ago:

"The mistletoe is hung up in farm-houses and kitchens at Christmas, and the young men have the happy privilege of kissing the girls under it, plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked the privilege ceases."

May you find yourself often under a sprig of mistletoe this season with your favorite hero (or heroine), and may your holidays be merry indeed!

Miranda Jarrett

This stylish young lady is gathering greenery in her apron to decorate her house for the season in this 18th century print by Robert Sayer.  

Comments

[MaryJoPutney]

I have yet to find an opportunity to work in the bit about having to take off a berry each time a kiss is collected. I have a mental image of some mischievous young male--or female!--substituting new sprigs with more berries every night of Christmastide. I'll bet that happened regularly, human nature being what it is. :)

Mary Jo

[Anne Gracie]

Miranda/Susan, that lady looks to me like she has a Plan in mind -- more like a potion than a harmless kiss. LOL.
I suspect northern hemisphere mistletoe is different from downunder mistletoe - ours is more brownery, or maybe bronzery than greenery. Or perhaps it's that I only notice it in the seasons where there's a colour contrast with the new bronze growth.

[Louis]

That hat is something else!

[May]

Let's hear it for Miss December! Love that outfit for pruning in the garden. Fun!

[Michele]

Hi, Miranda, long time no see! Any new titles we should be looking for? I've always been a big fan of your books. Hope you have anew one coming soon.

Happy new year to all the Wenches everywhere.......

[Ellen H.]

What a splendid holiday picture. Of course there'd be a true historical one here at the WordWenches, a refreshing change in all the cheesy commercial bling. Thank you for sharing it, Miranda.

[willaful]

I've never seen real mistletoe, but we have a plastic sprig that has been doing duty for over 20 years now. I seem to spend a lot of time under the kitchen doorway...

[Michele]

We have the plastic mistletoe, too. Seems to work just fine, and there's no expiration date on kissing when the berries run out. Actually, we first bought the plastic kind because I believe the berries are poisonous to pets. Don't know if this is true or not, but better safe than sorry. Our labs eat anything.

[Michele]

We have the plastic mistletoe, too. Seems to work just fine, and there's no expiration date on kissing when the berries run out. Actually, we first bought the plastic kind because I believe the berries are poisonous to pets. Don't know if this is true or not, but better safe than sorry. Our labs eat anything.

[Susan Scott]

Sorry I'm late replying here -- I've been away in the Land Without High-Speed.

MJP, I'd like to work the mistletoe lore into a story, too. Somehow it seems too good to waste -- and
Miranda here:

I've wondered if Washington Irving thought that way as well. As much as he seemed enamored with the story, I don't think he ever used it in his fiction, either.

Anne, the mistletoe up here in North America is a waxy white berry. Interesting how the same plant can look so different!

[Susan Scott]

miranda again:

Louis and May -- I agree, Miss December does have mighty fashionable attire for working in the garden. This is one of a series of prints, a different lady for every month, and each right on the cutting edge of style.

I always liked this particular one because IMHO, this lady looks like she's plotting some righteous mischief. The full moon behind her says it all....*g*

[Susan Scott]

Willaful and Michele -- I'm sure the plastic mistletoe works just fine for amatory purposes. *g* More long-lasting, too.

I've heard that about the berries being poisonous to pets. Don't know if it's true, but if you and I have both "heard" it, I say it must be true!

[Susan Scott]

Miranda yet again:

Michele –– how nice to hear from a Miranda-fan! I have one more Harlequin Historical somewhere in the publishing pipeline. It's the last of the "Love on the Grand Tour" series, set in Venice, and will finally give Jane, the governess, a love of her own , and a surprising one at that. However,I don't yet know when it's being scheduled for publication, or even what the final title will be. Stay tuned here -- I'll be sure to post the news when I know myself. *g*

[Matt Lytle]

Here is a website selling fresh and preserved mistletoe. Its a Christmas tradition that has been around for hundreds of years. They have a page where you can learn about the tradition too.