![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.evildressmaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/inenglish.gif?resize=214%2C100\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nMistletoe is traditional Christmas decoration in England and Europe. In Finland mistletoe is not originally part of Christmas tradition, because it hasn’t been growing here. However during past couple decades it’s been found in southwest coast and even inland in Tampere. So I was surprised to be able to buy some from Turku Christmas market. Autumn and winter are the best times to find mistletoe in nature, when trees don’t have leaves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is because mistletoe is evergreen semi-parasitic plant, which grows on trees. Trees that work as hosts for mistletoe are forexample apple, hawthorn, maple, rowan, ash, poplar, sometimes oak. Mistletoe gets the water and nutrients from the host tree, but also uses photosynthesis to get nutrients. It grows in ball-shaped bushes on tree branches and grows roots through the thin bark of the tree. Long leaves are in pairs and berries are greenish white, flowers are yellow. Mistletoe is newcomer in Finland, so it’s not clear yet if it’s going to be invasive species or not. Apparently it has come to Finland to stay. Mistletoe is considered a twig so according to Finnish law you are not allowed to pick it without landowners permission. It is also very poisonous to humans. However birds can eat it, and in some areas it is very important food source for wildlife. There are lot of stories and believes related to mistletoe. If you have been reading Asterix as a kid, you probably remember that druid Getafix used to harvest mistletoe from oak trees with his golden sickle, to make potion which gave supernatural powers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mistletoes unusual way of growing has fascinated people for centuries and has caused all kind of believes and myths to appear. Plant supposedly has mystical powers. In some stories it’s a herb of love, in some it brings good luck. In Catholic church it’s believed to be devil’s seed, because it prefers to grow on apple trees (you know, Adam, Eve and the apple…). Mistletoe is old medicinal herb. People used it as early as in Antique Rome for treating ilnesses and to bring good luck. During Christmas people are urged to kiss under mistletoe, to guarantee good luck and fertility. This belief is probably originating to Celts, however the kissing was added to it much later. Celts used mistletoe as decoration and also gave it to each other as gifts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In England it is popular decoration because it does grow in almost everywhere in Great Britain. As evergreen plant it is fantastic decoration on a season when most plants have died. During Christmas however it’s often confused with common holly\/English holly, another popular evergreen Christmas decoration. Holly has dark green, shiny and spiky leaves and red berries. It would be fun to try to grow mistletoe in our own garden, however I have mixed feelings because of the possible risk of becoming invasive species. After all it can kill the host tree, if the tree gets overinfested with it. <\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.evildressmaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/misteli1.jpg?resize=704%2C1024\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.evildressmaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/misteli2.jpg?resize=650%2C1024\")
<\/em>I think mistletoe is beautiful, unusual looking plant. <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Misteli on perinteinen joulukoriste Englannissa ja Euroopassa. Suomessa misteli ei ole alunperin kasvanut, joten suomalaiseen jouluperinteeseen se ei oikeastaan kuulu. Viime vuosina sit\u00e4 on kuitenkin tavattu lounaisrannikolta ja jopa Tampereelta. Niinp\u00e4 suureksi h\u00e4mm\u00e4styksekseni pystyin ostamaan misteli\u00e4 Turun Vanhan suurtorin joulumarkkinoilta. Parhaiten mistelin l\u00f6yt\u00e4\u00e4 luonnosta n\u00e4in talviaikaan, kun puissa ei ole lehti\u00e4. Misteli eli euroopanmisteli on… <\/p>\n