The Victorian Kissing Ball
Christmas is just around the corner and many are busy preparing their favorite holiday food and decorating their homes. I’m sure we’ve all seen a kissing ball or mistletoe hanging over open doorways but do you know why? Originally, during England’s Middle Ages, “holy boughs” (made from interlocking evergreen branches) graced passages. The holy bough hung from entryways as an omen of goodwill for embracing visitors. After a period of unpopularity, thanks to the Puritans, Victorians brought the holy bough back from obscurity, complete with a new look and new name. It soon became known as the kissing ball which was an elaborately decorated apple or potato complete with herbs and foliage. The herbs on each ‘kissing ball‘ were not only chosen for their beauty, but also for their symbolic value. Lavender and rosemary signified loyalty and devotion, while thyme promoted courage. Mistletoe was a popular decorative choice symbolizing good fortune and fertility.
The kissing ball began to emphasize romance, rather than mere good will. Dancers waltzed under the kissing ball laced with mistletoe for a peck, and single women stood in wait for potential suitors. Eventually, sprigs of mistletoe superseded all other foliage and became the symbol of holiday affection that we know toady.
The Victorians incorporated the use of a number of different plants into Christmas celebrations; the Victorian home was decorated with greenery such as Holly, Mistletoe and Ivy, as well as evergreen boughs, which were then fashioned into festive Christmas garlands, wreaths and swags.
To make your own kissing ball, visit Martha Stewart’s site or for an artificial version, check out Better Homes and Gardens.
The Culinary Chase’s Note: My kissing ball hangs over my kitchen window which I purchased from a local florist. It was minimally decorated and suited my needs to which I added a few sprigs of baby’s breath. Lavender and rosemary will be added this weekend after my trip to the farmers market.
By The Glass Note: I would dare say that for as long as there has been wine there has been a link between it and kissing. Haven’t we all had one of those wine induced moments of adoration? I for one can admit that my marriage has much to do with my attempts to woe with food and drink. If you like the idea of a kissing ball, as a symbol of love and romance during the holiday seasons you might like wines that either figuratively or literally emulate its character. In Canada, Andrew Peller Ltd markets the connection of love and wine through its simple XOXO line but if you want a wine to induce the adoration of a foodie it might be better to forego gimmicky labels and try searching out wines, like the kissing ball, that blend fruit flavours with intriguing herbaceous notes. Australian Cabernet is famous for its combinations of ripe blackberry fruit and savoury notes (mint, sage) – the Wolf Blass Grey Label Cabernet Sauvignon is over the top in its combination of sweet and savoury elements. I for one love the wines of Provence and Southern Rhone that sing with rather than scream about their herbaceous characteristics. Look for scents of lavender and rosemary in the red wines of Provence and the Southern Rhone. Search out wines from appellations such as Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras and the larger Cotes du Rhone appellation. Producers such as Ogier Caves des Papes make wines that are polished and modern that will appeal to a range of palates. For a true classic producer though, it’s hard to beat the wines of the Perrin Family. Having recently returned from a tasting in the cellars of Chateau Beaucastel I can attest that these only improve with age and rest assured serving an older vintage of this legendary wine to a loved one at Christmas should provide the desired moment of adoration.
It is a thing of beauty…I need one so that I might win back the love of my life with one kiss! Hmm…don’t think that fairytale will happen but it is a lovely idea! xxx
Thanks Curious Cat. Only 1 kiss to win back the love of your life? That has to be a magical kiss. 🙂 Cheers!
nicely written. now if only we could get an interesting selection of Rhone wines in the HRM at a reasonable price. man…an ’98 Vieux Telegraph would be a nice holiday drink wouldn’t it? I bet I’d get a couple kisses for pulling out a beauty like that.
Yes, if only we could get Vieux Telegraphe. At the Port of Wines they have Beaucastel for $79.99 (lower than just about anywhere on the planet). They also list on their site as having 98 Beaucastel in magnum for $120 – a purchase of that might warrant more than just a kiss.