How to Harvest Mistletoe

It may be cold outside, but you can keep it warm inside, by catching a loved one under the mistletoe and placing a kiss on their lips in the spirit of tradition. Mistletoe has quite a history. Long before its place in the Christmas season, the Norse, the Celtic Druids and North American Indians respected mistletoe. Here's how to harvest it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Gardening scissors

1. Cut it down like a Druid. The Druid priests used golden sickles to slice it from oak trees. They believed that it had to be caught before it hit the ground. While you probably don't have a golden sickle around, you can create a family event by cutting it from an oak tree and letting those below catch it. Just be sure to use a secure ladder and keep little ones out of harm's way.
2. Clip European Mistletoe. This is the shrub we call Holly. Harvest the mistletoe by snipping off a sprig with scissors. Cut a piece with berries attached.
3. Take a piece off a wreath. Many Christmas wreathes need trimming. Save a piece of mistletoe from it and hang it in your home.
4. Keep your mistletoe moist. Place the roots in water before hanging to prolong the mistletoe's life. Hang it when you're ready to use it.

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