Christmas Mistletoe

The Christmas Meaning of Mistletoe
It was called Herbe de la Croix and Lignum Sanctae Crucis or “the wood of the Sacred Cross” because it was believed to have been the tree which supplied the wood for the cross of Christ. For its part in the Crucifixion, it was condemned to the life of a parasitic vine, in the same way the serpent was condemned to crawl upon its belly for its part in the fall of man. Some believe that an additional penance was required: that the mistletoe bestow good fortune and blessings upon everyone who walked beneath it. Thus mistletoe became a popular Christmas symbol of love and eternal life.