Everyone is familiar with mistletoe. It's that pretty little bundle of leaves and berries we hang in our doorway during the Xmas holidays. Then we spend plenty of time trying to maneuver the object of our affections beneath it. Known far and wide as the Yule kissing plant, mistletoe happens to have an extremely interesting history. You can read about it here: Under The Mistletoe.

Before the days of television and the Internet, people spent a good part of the winter holidays visiting friends and family. In Victorian England, this sort of socializing was an important part of matchmaking. During the Yule, a homeowner would hang sprigs of mistletoe in his doorway, loosely following the Scandinavian tradition of laying down one's arms. If a young lady was caught under the mistletoe by a young gentleman, it was perfectly acceptable for him to give her a chaste kiss. Many romances blossomed from this tradition.

In honor of the merriment behind this Yule tradition, we have hung boughs of mistletoe from every rafter in the ceiling. As in days of old, sanctioned by priests and prudes alike, come and give a kiss to the person you hold in affectionate esteem under our Yuletide greenery.

Be sure to visit lovely Diantha's VictorianXoXo Xmas Candy Booth for that minty fresh kissing breath.

Or, help yourself to a flavored lip gloss.

You are also invited to visit Diantha's A Victorian Xmas. This booth is chock full of Victorian delights, not the least of which is an article about Victorian Christmas by Cornellia Cornelius and Victorian avatars by Seshat Taharqa.

For the adventurous ~ Miss L. Toe's kissing meter

Seasonal articles:
The History of Saturnalia by Lucius Aelius
Sankta Lucia ~ Festival of Lights by Catharina Grafeldr
The Fir Tree (Hans Christian Andersen) by AzureEyes Ramasses
Under The Mistletoe by moi

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