Mistletoe, Holly… Porch Decor to Show Holiday Love

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Front door with holiday lights
Holiday Decorating

Growing up, my mom hung what we thought was mistletoe from the chandelier in the foyer.  It was a 70’s style house with the sunken living room, a huge stone fireplace on the east wall, topped with real wood beams across the lifted ceiling.  The kitchen was the span of the house with an office and greenhouse at one end.  The dining room opened to a beautiful patio with surround sound, built in cooking area, and brick fireplace.  Looking back on it, the house sounds beautiful, however, there was the typical 70’s decor as well.  Green shag carpet with a brown corduroy couch adorned the living room.  Gold fuzzy wallpaper with a weird picture of a knight in the dining room.  The foyer was large with small, black, marble tile and a low hanging chandelier overhead.  

The holidays were a big deal at our house.  Mom and Dad left no stone unturned and decorated inside and out to the nines.  However, they made one big mistake!  Every year they hung this fake green and red ball from the entry chandelier.  They said it was mistletoe…and we believed them!  It wasn’t until recently that I learned mistletoe berries are WHITE and not red.  What my mom was hanging was definitely not white!  However, looking back on it, I think my mother was hanging holly, which, after a little investigation, I learned many people confuse the two.

Now, as an adult, I’ve thought of hanging mistletoe in my foyer or on my front porch.  That’s what led to my quest to find out more about this special plant.  

Mistletoe is known to be toxic to people, however, the berries and leaves provide high protein for many animals.  Mistletoe is also known to help cure colon cancer, so in some cases the toxicity is better than chemotherapy.

Traditional ancient Greek myths began the custom of kissing under the mistletoe.  Because the plant stays green all year, it is also associated with fertility and used at wedding ceremonies.

Victorian England seems to have adopted this tradition, too. For example, if a girl refused a kiss whilst standing under mistletoe, it was said that she wouldn’t receive any marriage proposals during the following year. Worse, it seems that many people would avoid her since they believed she would probably end up an old maid — as if this was such a bad thing!

If you follow the mistletoe tradition, be sure you’re hanging the correct plant… and not holly!  Also be sure to follow the proper etiquette: first, the person will be kissed on the cheek and second, one berry will be removed from the mistletoe sprig. After all the berries are gone, the kissing ends, too.  

Mistletoe
Holly

In conclusion, mistletoe adds an exciting surprise to your front porch decor.  Whether you follow the kissing tradition or not, mistletoe is a beautiful way to add style, build tradition, and welcome your guests.

Peace out.

Cassie

Read more about holly and mistletoe.

 

Author

Cassie co-founded brick&batten in 2017 with her sister, Alli, but her love of home design was born years earlier. Cassie’s passion for design can be traced back to her childhood, when she’d accompany her parents on road trips through small towns in search of inspiration for properties they would buy, fix up, and sell. Prior to launching brick&batten, Cassie worked as a fourth grade teacher, but her love of design, architecture, home renovation, and open houses inspired her to pursue a new career. When writing for brick&batten, Cassie aims to empower homeowners to make the best informed decisions for their property. She knows from experience how challenging home renovation can be, and when she writes, she puts herself in the shoes of every homeowner with similar frustrations. Cassie currently lives in Florida with her four children, an old dog, and her loving husband. When she’s not working, Cassie is most likely checking out a nearby open house or traveling to learn about the latest house trends.