Wendy: A LOT OF COUPLES

SEEK OUT MISTLETOE, WHICH I

HAVE IN MY HAND, AS

CHRISTMAS PARTIES SO THEY

CAN STEAL A LITTLE KISS

UNDER THE DOORWAY.

THERE IS A LOT MORE TO

MISTLETOE THAN JUST

KISSING?

THERE CERTAINLY IS.

WHEN THE FIRST MISSIONARIES

GOT TO THE NORTH COUNTRIES,

THEY FOUND OUT MISTLETOE WAS

A PLANT THESE PEOPLE REVERED

BECAUSE IT DIDN'T DIE IN THE

WINTERTIME.

Wendy: SO IT WAS

CONSIDERED SACRED?

IT WAS CONSIDERED

SACRED.

AND IF TWO WARING VIKINGS

MET UNDER

MISTLETOE, THEY

COULDN'T FIGHT.

THEY HAD TO FIND A REASON TO

SEEK PEACE.

THE EARLY MISSIONARIES TOOK

ADVANTAGE OF THAT, AND THEY

TRANSFORMED IT WHEN THEY

TRANSFORMED PIECE PEOPLE'S

LIFE THROUGH FAITH AND

CHRIST.

THE MISTLETOE BECAME A PLANT

THAT REPRESENTED A FAITH

THAT WOULDN'T DIE, EVEN IN

THE BLEAKEST, DARKEST

TIMES.

Wendy: HOW DID IT

BECOME THE KISSING PLANT?

THE VIKINGS THOUGHT THIS

PLANT WAS SO POWERFUL, THEY

HAD THEIR BRIDE AND GROOMS

MARRY UNDER THEM BECAUSE

THEY THOUGHT, LIKE THE

MISTLETOE, THEIR FAITH WOULD

BE SUSTAINED THROUGH THE

DARKEST OF WINTERTIME.

HENCE THE END OF THE

CEREMONY, THE KISS -- THAT'S

WHY IT BECAME THE KISSING

PLANT.

BUT IT IS BETTER KNOWN THE

OLD CIRCLES, THE PLANT THAT

STOOD FOR THE PRINCE OF PEACE