Yule Countdown: The Magic of Mistletoe

In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice is approaching, and that means it's a good time of year to celebrate mistletoe magic. It's small, it's cute, and if you're really lucky, you might get a lip lock from someone special when you stand underneath it. Any plant that gets me a kiss is okay in my book -- but there's a lot more to mistletoe than this. Over the centuries, it's been known as a cure for tumors and boils (decidedly unromantic), a call to lay down one's arms, and the center of ancient agricultural rituals. No matter how you look at it, there's far more to this botanical parasite than meets the eye.

• Mistletoe: Myths, Mysteries and Medicine

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