Mistletoe and Kisses: The Story of the Kissing Bough

The kissing bough goes by many names, such as: the Christmas Bough, the mistletoe bough, the kissing ball, etc. It was the most popular Christmas decoration during Tudor times. By the Regency, it had become a socially acceptable excuse for males and females to indulge in a bit of flirtation, but its popularity faded in the Victorian era, and it was replaced by the Christmas tree.

What is a Kissing Bough?

A kissing bough is a ball-shaped decoration made from woven willow or ash branches and covered with evergreen foliage like holly, ivy, sprigs of pine, hawthorn and, of course, mistletoe.

It’s usually hung over doors and windows, or in a prominent place where people are sure to walk beneath it, such as from a chandelier.

Why Mistletoe?

Mistletoe has a long history steeped in lore and is associated with good fortune and fertility.

Kissing Bough — Image by Hans from Pixabay

According to Norse mythology, the goddess Frigga named the plant sacred and decreed that anyone who stood beneath it would never be harmed and could only be kissed. The Greeks also believed mistletoe had power over hell, and the druids placed mistletoe in doorways as a sign of peace and welcome. They would greet their guests beneath the mistletoe with a kiss of friendship.

Of course, to encourage conversions, the Christian church adopted many of the symbols of peace used by the pagans, and mistletoe then became a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.

A Quick History of the Kissing Bough

The Middle Ages – holly boughs were first recorded and often featured a clay figure of an infant Jesus or the holy family. They were hung from ceilings in halls and passageways and those who passed beneath were blessed with good luck for the coming year.

Tudor times – Evergreen hoops were hung over doorways and on walls to welcome guests. It became and tradition to embrace if you encountered someone beneath the bough.

The Georgian era – it’s not certain when the kisses of friendship became romantic, some suggest the sixteenth century, others the eighteenth, but by now, the tradition of kissing beneath the mistletoe was well established along with several superstitions. There was a certain amount of impropriety still associated with the kissing bough, and some high society households only permitted kissing boughs below stairs.

The Victorians – Kissing boughs now became elaborately decorated using ribbons and glitter. They also began to use flowers and herbs such as lavender and rosemary, which symbolised loyalty and devotion. Some made boughs with a potato or a fruit, such as an apple or pear, at the base. The Romantic influence was in full swing, and boughs were hung in ballrooms for dancers to waltz beneath, and women often deliberately stood under the kissing bough in the hope of finding a suitor.

Traditions and Superstitions

As mentioned, several traditions and superstitions developed around the kissing bough and mistletoe.

Once mistletoe was cut, it was not supposed to touch the ground. (I’m not sure why, though.)
Mistletoe had to remain in place until Twelfth Night (6^th January – AKA the Epiphany). Then it was taken down and burned, unless you wanted to bring bad luck to your household.
If a couple kissed under the mistletoe, the male would remove a berry as proof. Once all the berries had been removed, no more kissing could be done beneath it, and it was taken down.
If a girl wasn’t kissed under the mistletoe, she wouldn’t marry the following year.
Refusing a kiss when standing beneath the kissing bough also brought bad luck.
If you keep a sprig of mistletoe, it will drive evil away from the house for the coming year.

“The mistletoe hung from the castle walls,

The holly bough hung in the old oak hall

And the Baron’s retainers were blithe and gay,

All keeping their Christmas holiday…”
The Mistletoe Bough by Thomas Bayly (1797-1839)

Do you know any other traditions or superstitions associated with mistletoe or the kissing bough? If so, let me know in the comments. If you’re interested in more festive history, check out my post about the Christmas pudding.

In my current work in progress, The Radical Heiress, Mr Thomas Burton teases a kiss from Miss Emily Reed beneath the kissing bough. It’s one of my favourite scenes in the book, and I hope you’ll be able to read it soon.