Q 01/05

In the old mistletoe kissing custom, what was plucked from the sprig after each kiss?

A) A leaf

B) A berry

C) A ribbon

D) A stem

Answer · why

B) A berry

A berry was plucked for every kiss, and once the sprig was bare the kissing had to stop.

Q 02/05

Which US state adopted mistletoe as its floral emblem in 1893, years before it joined the Union?

A) Arizona

B) New Mexico

C) Oklahoma

D) Utah

Answer · why

C) Oklahoma

Oklahoma Territory chose mistletoe 14 years before statehood. It stood in as the state flower until the Oklahoma Rose was designated in 2004.

Q 03/05

The tree-sized mistletoe Nuytsia floribunda puts out orange Christmas blooms in which country?

A) Australia

B) South Africa

C) Brazil

D) New Zealand

Answer · why

A) Australia

Australia is home to this giant, which taps the roots of neighbouring plants instead of perching on a branch. Its root attachments have even been foun...

Q 04/05

The ending of the word mistletoe comes from the Old English tan, which meant what?

A) Toe

B) Dung

C) Twig

D) Leaf

Answer · why

C) Twig

Twig is the meaning of tan, so the name is just 'mistle twig'. Mistle was the plant's older name, and the ending may have drifted to 'toe' once tan fe...

Q 05/05

Which priests of ancient Gaul climbed a sacred tree to cut down mistletoe for a healing elixir?

A) Bards

B) Druids

C) Augurs

D) Vates

Answer · why

B) Druids

Druids held nothing more sacred than mistletoe, in the words of the one Roman writer who described the rite. A drink made from it was meant to make ba...