Traditional Christmas Kissing Balls

An invitation to be kissed!  The Kissing ball comes from the Middle Ages when people would wind evergreens together in a ball shape.  In the centre they would place a figure to represent the baby Jesus.  Hung along passage ways to render good luck and blessings to all who passed under.

In Victorian the tradition was updated.  With foliage poked into an apple or even a potato creating a circular design.  Using herbs with romantic notations it soon become a romantic gesture to kiss under this ball of fragrance.

During the 20th century this tradition seemed to fade.  However, with the availability of mistletoe (even from the greengrocer), the kissing ball is being reinvented.

On our recent Seasonal Flowers course we made kissing balls from moss and foliage and decorated with evergreen foliage and mistletoe - perfect for the Christmas season!