It was placed in high esteem in the pre-Christian era as the news of its magical powers traversed boundaries and spilt over to the other cultures like the Celts and Scandinavians who yielded to its charm. When Christianity gained ground the traditions and customs related to the Mistletoe plant were imbibed into the Christian faith and it was placed on a higher pedestal than ever before. The origin of the plant is shrouded in mystery but the folklore and the legends that revolve around it have a lot to offer. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe dates back from the Roman times as the act was believed to ensure fertility, a tradition, which has retained its charm even today. The tradition is believed to have been derived from the Mistletoe's method of dispersal. The birds eat the berries and interestingly enough, the seeds don't germinate unless they pass through the intestines of the birds.
As regards species, the Christmas mistletoes are hemi parasitic i.e. only partially parasitic and they cling on to the host tree for survival. They were first introduced in California by Luther Burbank but its other varieties are available locally in U.S many of which have yellowish or pink berries instead of white. Even today people exchange kisses under the mistletoe in many of the European countries and Canada while the tradition is delayed to the New Year's Day "Au gui l'An neuf" (Mistletoe for the New Year) in France.
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