A fun Holiday Tradition

Happy Holidays everyone! I have a fun holiday tradition to share with you that will probably make you scream – – either for joy or from terror!! It’s called hanging MISTLETOE and I’ve hidden it ALL over school. Being a CRUSHOLOGIST and an expert at ROMANCE and diagnosing CRUSH-ITIS, I know ALL of the PERFECT locations to hang mistletoe for unsuspecting couples, friends, and crushes. 

For some, mistletoe can make you run in the opposite direction! Or if you’re like me, wait around until your crush stands underneath it, giving you the perfect excuse to steal a kiss or a peck on the cheek. 

I’m sure you’ve heard a little bit about this holiday plant, its reputation for romance and how it causes countless smooches! But, how much do you REALLY know about mistletoe? Before you corner your crush under the mistletoe, let’s first learn some fun facts and traditions about a festive holiday decoration:

1. Mistletoe is a parasitic plant which means that it actually grows by attaching itself to other plants and shrubs and stealing food and water from its host
2. There’s like 1,300 species of mistletoe with more than 20 on the endangered list
3. Mistletoe will never touch the soil or the ground since it’s always attached to a tree or shrub
4. Mistletoe prefers to grow on trees like pine, fir, poplar, apple, oak, maple, birch, and willow
5. Mistletoe is found all over the world in both hot and cold climates 
6. Mistletoe blooms and bears fruits in the winter months
7. Several types of birds,squirrels, porcupines, deer, chipmunks, butterflies, and bees live off the mistletoe berries, leaves, and nectar making it an important source of food especially in the wintertime when food is scarce
8. Mistletoe bushes provide a nesting place and protection for a variety of birds and owls
9. There’s lots of stories about mistletoe in ancient folklore and mythology
10. For centuries mistletoe symbolizes peace, love, romance, prosperity, friendship, fertility, eternal life, and goodwill in different cultures
11. Some hang mistletoe in doorways to bring good luck and to keep evil spirits away
12. It’s good luck to accept a kiss under the mistletoe and bad luck not to. 

As you can see, there’s lots of myths and legends about this iconic plant but the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is what mistletoe is best known for. 

Be sure to look UP this holiday season because you just might get caught under the mistletoe and get a kiss! Does mistletoe make you SQUEEEE!  or AHHHHH?!