| Everyone knows about stealing a kiss under the | | | | particular style had a sprig of mistletoe hanging from |
| mistletoe but not everyone knows about the kissing | | | | the center. In Canada, the kissing ball also included |
| ball. This ornament harks back to Colonial days in | | | | nuts, berries, pinecones, and sometimes even |
| America and it was a popular Christmas decoration | | | | popcorn. It also replaced the traditional Christmas |
| during the Victorian era in England. It is the | | | | tree in Canada where many of the homes in the |
| predecessor of the tradition of hanging mistletoe in a | | | | northern regions of the country were too small to |
| doorway and why many people stopped using this | | | | accommodate a tree. |
| particular ornament is unclear. What is clear is that it | | | | Just like the popular tradition of kissing under the |
| is starting to come back into ‘style’ | | | | mistletoe today, couples would kiss beneath a kissing |
| today as more and more people discover this unique | | | | ball in olden days. Young women who were caught |
| Christmas decoration. | | | | under the decoration had to pay the price and give |
| The kissing ball has always been made of evergreen | | | | the gentleman who caught her there a kiss. Some |
| boughs and mistletoe, unless you purchase a modern | | | | other traditions stated that couples that kissed |
| one that is made of some type of material that will | | | | beneath the ball would stay together for the year |
| not wilt or fade as it gets old. Bay and pine, | | | | and maybe even marry. In order to ensure that the |
| rosemary, lavender and thyme were also used in the | | | | power of the herbs and plants used in the ball lasted |
| ball when they were handmade. During the Victorian | | | | throughout the year, the kissing ball was traditionally |
| era, the base of the ball was made from an apple or | | | | burned on Twelfth Night. |
| a potato. Each of the flowers or herbs that were | | | | If you are interested in making your own decoration |
| used in the construction of the ball had a meaning. | | | | for your home, there are numerous craft instructions |
| For example, mistletoe was used to help the people | | | | available on the Internet for you use. These |
| who kissed beneath it overcome difficulties | | | | instructions range from making a small ball with the |
| throughout the year. | | | | traditional apple or potato base to actually growing a |
| In addition to the base, herbs, and pine used in the | | | | ball in a round metal frame planter that includes ivy, |
| decoration, they were also decorated with ribbons, | | | | holly, and other Christmastime plants that can be |
| other small ornaments, and sometimes even lighted | | | | started growing early in the year so that it is ready |
| candles. The ball was also made using a double hoop | | | | to decorate for the holidays. |
| made of metal or grapevine for the base and this | | | | |