Why are mistletoe and holly associated with Christmas?
Mistletoe has always been a major decoration at Christmas, and has given rise to a ‘kiss under the mistletoe.’ The plant has a long history of pagan use, and this caused the church to ban the use of mistletoe. In exchange, the church called for the use of holly. Although the red berries are thought of as traditional Christmas colours, few people know why. The sharp leaves of holly were once thought to represent the thorns of the crown of Christ, whilst the red berries were his blood.
