MISTLETOE MEMORIES

           Illustration by the Spotted Frog (Etsy)

January 5: All About Twelfth Night 

Down with the rosemary, and so

Down with the bays and mistletoe;

Down with the holly, ivy, all,

Wherewith ye dress’d the Christmas Hall.

–Robert Herrick (1591–1674) 

MISTLETOE

    My mom always hung mistletoe from the small chandelier in our foyer. I fondly remember seeing my grandparents and parents smooching under that mistletoe every year. Most often, it was left up long after all the Christmas decorations were put away. Just forgotten, unnoticed. Except.

    Except, when a boy I was very fond of noticed that it remained hanging long past the holidays. He smiled each time we said good night and kissed me sweetly accusing me of keeping it there so he would always kiss me goodbye. He promised that someday he would write a play about this cherished mistletoe that remained in place long after Christmas to remind us all to always kiss each other goodbye. I wonder if that play was ever written. I think it would have been a hit.