What You Should Know 'bout the Holly and the Mistletoe · 3:00am Dec 17th, 2013
Loyal Watchers, Interested Visitors, and Confused Passersby,
The holiday season has befallen us once again! A great big "Thanks!" to everyone who has joined us in the Santa Hat Project. It's looking positively festive around here! I, ever the one to partake in Christmastide merriment, have already bestrewn my domicile and person with evidence of my enjoyment of the holidays.
As I wandered the halls of a major retail outlet the other day I was surprised to see mounting evidence that there is some very real confusion about what "mistletoe" exactly is.
Namely, I saw a bunch of ornaments that looked a lot like this:
Technical Note: I'm a Bills fan, not a Packers fan. It's very similar, except with more shame, desperations, and less cheese.
So, what's wrong with this picture? Well, let's get something straight... that is not mistletoe!
Yup, there seems to be a growing unawareness of what actually constitutes "mistletoe". It's not hard to understand why. When is the last time that you actually saw anybody kiss under a sprig of mistletoe? As we move farther and farther away from our agrarian roots, identifying plants and their purposes is something that people have a harder and harder time doing well.
So, let's review what we're dealing with here.
First off, the plant that people are commonly mis-identifying as mistletoe is actually holly. Both are associated with the ancient holidays that predate Christmas, and which became part of Christmas traditions when the new holiday supplanted the old one in ancient Britain and Normandy.
This is holly. Say "Hi!"
It's hard being a deciduous evergreen.
Note the ragged leaves and red berries
Evolution hasn't been kind to holly. The subspecies are the only surviving member of the family Aquifoliaceae, so the poor thing deserves more respect that to pitch-hit for mistletoe.
In pre-Christian Europe, the Druids often wore wreaths of holly during the winter solstice holidays. In Ancient Rome, early Christians took to decorating their homes with holly, as it was a symbol of Saturn. That way if any pagan was in a prosecutorial mood, they could point to the holly. But, in actuality, they were applying their own meaning to its colors, red for Christ's blood shed on the cross, green for eternal life.
As Christianity took root, and the new holiday of Christmas emerged, holly made its way into the new celebration. Hence, that's why its part of Christmas decorations to this day.
It's also the wood used in Harry Potter's wand, so show some deference, damn it!
Now, let's move on to what mistletoe actually is!
In one word? Nasty.
It turns out that actual mistletoe is, in reality, a parasite. Yes, even the world for flora is not without its life-sucking fiends, and mistletoe is right on up there with the rest of the scumbags.
Mwahahahaha!
Mistletoe comes from the order Santalales, the famed jerk-plant order, and goes about its day by burrowing into the xylem and phloem of perfectly innocent trees with interesting (disgusting) nanotubes called hastorium. These allow it to mooch off the host plant without giving anything back like that one guy who came to a party at your house that one time and asked if he could stay the night 'cause he thought he was drunk and who stayed the next day chatting with your friends and slept over the next night without you realizing it and the next thing you know its two months later, everyone is calling him your "roommate", he hasn't paid a dollar for anything, and there's something being brewed in your shower but you don't know what it is.
Whoa. Flashbacks.
Anywho, mistletoe has elliptical leaves and white berries.
Pictured: Jerk-plant with jerky elliptical leaves and jerky white berries.
The Norse had a thing for mistletoe. There's two competing theories as to why. The first had to do with the berries looking like the tears of the goddess Frigga. The other has to do with the accidental castration of their god Balder.
This journal will go with the former.
Anywho, as a symbol of love, joy, peace, and other stuff we don't normally associate with our stereotypical view of Viking Norsemen, the white berries of the mistletoe jerk-plant found their way into the new Christmas holiday as a symbol of purity.
You fools! You've fallen for its wiles! Don't blame me if you wake up with hastoriums burrowing into your flesh!
So, out of all of the pagan pre-Christian winter solstice traditions in those fiddly bits of Europe closest to the Atlantic and Arctic that made the leap into the new Christian holiday of Christmas, how did noble, reliable, and truthful holly and jerky, jerkish, jerkedy mistletoe get the pass?
Well, they are both similar... if we look past the whole parasite thing, that is. They come from the same general area (which is why the tradition isn't part of Christmas celebrations in Latin America, Africa, or Asia). They both were part of pre-Christmas beliefs. Their berries are both toxic and taste horrible (please don't ask how I know that).
Oh! Most important! They are both evergreens!
Yup, holly keeps its green shine all through the darkness of winter, and mistletoe keeps slurping the life out of the host it has afflicted itself upon without pausing to stop.
So, by the default setting of both being green in deep winter, they have become symbols of the holiday!
Symbols that are often confused for one another.
Seriously! Even the TVTropes Page for "Under the Mistletoe has an image that shows holly instead of mistletoe! It even says that "Christ's cross was made from mistletoe" when it means holly. Mistletoe, ever the jerky-jerk, can't even be bothered to grow a wooden stem!
Anyone who wants to correct the TVTropes page will have my personal thanks.
That's holly, Cadance! ITTTTTtttt'ssss hhhhoooolllllllllllLLLLLLyyyy!
A Google Image search for mistletoe comes up with nearly as many clipart images of holly as actual mistletoe, much to my further chagrin.
Furthermore, do a search on any fandom image site like DeviantArt or Derpibooru for "mistletoe". How many images come up actually being holly? So... yeah.
And, finally, ask yourself... did you know the difference before you read this?
We've now explored the difference between holly and mistletoe. Now, equipped with such knowledge, I fully expect you to inform your favorite fandom artists as to why they should know the difference between two plants. We wouldn't want them to miss out on the opportunity to properly invoke a castrated Viking god, after all.
Or, more happily, to just help them get the tradition right, and to explore the peace, love, and joy that the Christmas/Hearth's Warming images have brought us here in the fandom, eh?.
Stay Awesome,
-T.D.
1616530
... and knowing is half the battle.
Never did I know, by going on a MLP fanfiction website, I'd learn about the mistletoe. The more ya know!
Nope, I didn't know the difference, and glad I didn't. Screw that jerk plant! Hollies are best Christmas plant!
Wow. Never would have known!
I can understand your aggravation at this. Most of my friends just look at me blankly when I tell them it's the wrong plant. Then they shrug, and say, "Whatever. It's a plant, right?"
1616538
The one that isn't Tom Hiddleston or Chris Hemsworth? Meh.
I sure knew there was a difference, but I had never taken the time to commit it to memory. Sounds like I rather be kissed underneath the holly, regardless.
1616539
Knowing is half the battle! Imagine what you'll know tomorrow! Other quotes from movies/television!
1616541
At least you're honest, Just!
1616544
I'm glad I could provide this important educational highlight.
1616547
Ugh! Ignorance is excuseable... but not willful ignorance.
1616562
Honesty is the best policy. I also blame my ignorance on being ignorant of my ignorance. XP
1616549
Damn straight!
1616557
What, you don't want the hastoriums peeking upon your moment of intimacy, straining towards you with their horrific nanotubes.. waiting for their opportunity to steal teh very life out of your veins? Where's your holiday spirit, man!?
1616538
The other half is lasers.
Or magic, I guess.
Yeah, magic lasers.
i.imgur.com/6SBh8H7.gif
Normal leafy mistletoe isn't as big of a problem, yes it's a parasite (hemiparasite actually) it's the annoying little brother is the one you have to worry about. Dwarf Mistletoe can actually distort the growth of the host... funny thing is I never thought Mistletoe got as far south as Texas.. then I took Plant Pathology and finial noticed them. See a tree that lost it's leaves yet has some scraggly green stuff on it, that's mistletoe.
Also would have figured you for a Ravens fan... being you know a raven...
I've fallen into the holly lull myself, but as soon as you pointed out the mistake, I went, "Oh yeah, mistletoe is white, innit?"
There is hope for me yet!
Never really knew what mistletoe actually looked like before, seen holly images before and I know about it but mistletoe not so much. Also I think there's a broken image at the end of the blog post.
I knew the difference, but then, I grew up in the woods, with a holly tree next to the porch for shade (and at one point a Peahen, which is not nearly as pretty as a Peacock, but still as annoying).
I also shot some mistletoe out of an oak tree with a bow and arrow (well, around 13 arrows, but a 10 year old's aim ain't that good).
Although the Balder myth as I know it lead to his death rather than his castration...
But yes. THANK YOU for the PSA. It's been irking me for some time as well.
I knew there was a difference, but I wasn't sure what it was. Now I do!
I also knew mistletoe was a parasite beforehand. At least it still generates chlorophyll. There are some plants that won't even do their own photosynthesis. And don't get me started on genus Rafflesia...
What else have we been lied to? Is eggnog not actually made of eggnog? Do partridges not live in pear trees? Is Santa Claus not real?
Every time I read a TD blog is like a magical adventure. It very rarely has anything to do with ponies, but I always learn something interesting through it.
You are a very unique raven with a wealth of knowledge that is no small thing. Thanks for the Holiday Service Announcement.
-Lumino
Thanks TD. Being about as far from the natural habitat of these plants as it is possible to get, I had no clue until today. A lifetime of singing about decking halls, or Christmas kissing, and I've had no clue this whole time.
Then again, listening to Bing Crosby crooning about a white Christmas when the temperature is pushing 100F is horror enough. Still, better than most Australian Christmas songs. (Six White Boomers...
)
My best wishes of the season to you.
Cool. I doubt I'll ever have any use for this fact, but isn't useless knowledge the best kind?
Entertaining and educational as always TD. I'm proud to say I knew that Mistle Toe is a parasite, and that Loki killed some blind person with it, but my mental image of it until ten minutes ago looked like Holly.
Dear god… Cadance and Cadance! How has no one done a crossover of this by now?
I did know the difference between the two prior to now (the visual difference, anyway), but I still prefer the look of holly to mistletoe. Maybe the solution here isn't getting people to stop using holly in place of mistletoe. Maybe the solution is to change the tradition to "kissing under the holly."
Either way, Merry Christmas!
I... actually knew all of this. Except for the castration part. I'm not sure if I even want to remember that, though.
I'm pretty sure the actual reason that everyone likes holly over mistletoe is a combination of availability and the fact that, quite frankly, holly is prettier and red + green is perceived as "more festive" than white + green.
I'll be honest, I don't think most people in the US can even recognize mistletoe at this point.
For lack of interest in installing Gimp...
Well, I went with my own holiday portrait.
Dang. I've been picturing mistletoe wrong my entire life. This is a sobering realization.
.
Phineas and Ferb may be confused, but to be fair to TVTropes there's a note on the caption pointing out that it's actually holly.
1616833
To be fair, I doubt most of the world can recognize mistletoe.
Where I first truly learned the difference.
I had known that they were different things for quite some time. How to tell them apart, however, took much longer.
I have a theory that the kissing under Mistletoe thing was actually celebrating the killing of the fat vampiric bastards.
I knew that mistletoe is a toxic parasite, but I did not know what either plant looks like because neither plant grows here.
Neither holly nor mistletoe feature in Finnish Christmas traditions. Thankfully, I learned what mistletoe looks like as a kid through reading Asterix! (There's also a short Lord Peter Wimsey story by Dorothy Sayers, where a valuable pearl necklace is stolen at a Christmas party, and the thief dismantles it and hides the pearls among the mistletoe berries in the decorations.)
Certainly useful information for anyone confused about what mistletoe looks like. Alas it is trivia and like all other trivia knowledge it will dissipate in my mind into nothingness.
But I'll probably remember it's a parasite.
I'm more surprised that some people DON'T know this. But then again, I've seen wild holly plenty of times before so the difference between it and mistletoe is pretty easy to tell for me. Also, I wonder if it's even safe to kiss someone under mistletoe? (What with being parasitic and all.)
I had no idea, but then again, holly and mistletoe aren't really a thing in Iceland.
My OCD told me something was off about the "mistletoe" from the word go. Then I noticed the berry colour and I facepalmed. I did not, however, know about the life cycle of mistletoe. That is awesome. Parasitic plants are really cool.
Personally, I like to hang up something like this:
calacademy.org/medialibrary/blogs/thelongview/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/20090116maagmissiletoe2578-1000x641.jpg
But everyone just gets confused when I do.
1616575
Those are the best type!
1616576
Yeah, but the Ravens didn't go to the Superbowl every year for three years during my impressionable, formative years.
1616586
I've always said so, Present... despite what others may say!
1616592
Yeah, I hotlinked that last image from TVTropes... I'm getting what I deserve.
1616593
I'm glad that we could share this mutual irking.
1616599
I know, what jerks they are, right?!
1616604
I think I have some bad news for you, Mess.
1616609
I do what I can to add to the collective intelligence of the fandom.
1616612
Ya wanna trade? I'm expecting 3-6 more inches of snow today. I can't get out and Christmas shop like this! I guess I'll just have to sit at home and work on the next chpater of Zenith...
1616648
It's always good to broach at parties!
1616668
You were better off than half the people, then!
1616720
I think I just discovered what Bob's next story is going to be about.
1616756
That is certainly a campaign that I can endorse!
1616764
It's not necessary to remember... makes for a good story, though!
1616833
I do believe that is sadly true.
1616886
While the focus of your new avatar most certainly has my endorsement, if you'd like me to put a Santa Hat on your old just feel free to ask.
1616976
Oh, good! The last line has been changed! It still has the line about Christ's cross wrong (it should be holly, not mistletoe), but I'll take what little advancement I can get. I wonder if one of my DA Watchers or Watchers here changed it?
1617120
I could endorse that celebration!
The TVTropes image now has a disclaimer about it being Holly instead of Mistletoe!
1617244
Yeah, it really is a Western European thing. I'm glad to see that local traditions are still strong in your area.
1617285
Yeah, it's more of a French, British thing, but that's where most American traditions come from. The one Scandanavian tradition I enjoy this time of year is the St. Lucy Dy celebration, which I organized for my Sunday School kids this year. I know it's big in Sweden, but is it as big in Finland?
1617391
Just remember the berry color, that's all I'm asking!
1617615
Heh, I over-played that part. The nanotubes can't puncture human skin. It is safe, traditional... and fun... to kiss a pretty girl beneath the mistletoe. Though, in todays society, it's probably best to have it in writing first, to avoid lawsuits.
1617628
Does Iceland have any indigenous Christmas traditions? Do you participate in events like St. Lucy Day like the Scandinavian countries?
1617639
I'll admit my bias. My attitude towards parasites is jaded by two decades of having to replace all of the drywall in my basement every other year at $1,000 a pop due to mold concerns.
1617650
Well, it certainly would catch their attention!
1617694
I'd like to think that we've effected real change in the world with this blog, then!
1617698 I am a biologist. As such, I am hardly less biased than you.
Well, glad to know about that.
pinkie.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/img/mlfw1449_more_you_know.jpg
I knew the difference! However, being British, we have holly in our back garden. No mistletoe, though. I didn't know it was possible to get the two confused- British media rarely does, but both plants are natives over here.
1617681
Seriously. "I don't wanna make stems or roots. I just wanna make giant flowers that smell like corpses. So I'm just gonna thread my cells through your tissues when I'm not in bloom, kay?"
1617698
Not sure about St. Lucy's, but definitely not to the extent others do.
We do have Laufabrauð, or Leaf Bread:
whydyoueatthat.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/laufabrauc3b0.jpg
We open gifts on advent's eve (the 24th) instead of on chrismas morning.
We also sort of celebrate Þorláksmessa on the 23rd. And by "celebrate" I mean have fermented skate for lunch, which has a really strong odor. And by "really strong odor" I mean "stench of ammonia so strong that chefs in large kitchens will show up for work on that day in old clothes so they can burn them at the end of the day" (I'm not even kidding)