Mistletoe has made the Yule season special ever since the Druids used their silver knives to cut it from the oak trees of ancient England. Kissing under the mistletoe is a relatively recent custom, popularized in Victorian England. But this evergreen herb that grows in trees has spread its magic through many different cultures.

• Norwegian peasants hung mistletoe from the rafters of their homes to protect against lightning.
• In Wales, mistletoe gathered on Midsummer Eve was placed under the pillow at Yule-tide to induce prophetic dreams.
• In northern Europe, mistletoe was thought to act as a master-key to open locks.
• Swedish farmers hung mistletoe in the horse's stall and the cow's crib, to protect against evil trolls. They also used the wood to make divining rods
• In the south of France, mistletoe was thought to be an antidote to all poisons