Lots of people decorate their homes with shit sticks at this time of year.
The modern word ‘mistletoe’ derives from the Old English ‘mistiltan’ - ‘mistil’ meaning ‘dung’ and ‘tan’ meaning ‘twig’. After passing through the digestive system of a bird, mistletoe berries retain their stickiness, which glues them to whatever branch the bird happens to be resting on when it takes a poo. People were quick to notice the connection between bird shit and the growth of the plant.
Boru
The modern word ‘mistletoe’ derives from the Old English ‘mistiltan’ - ‘mistil’ meaning ‘dung’ and ‘tan’ meaning ‘twig’. After passing through the digestive system of a bird, mistletoe berries retain their stickiness, which glues them to whatever branch the bird happens to be resting on when it takes a poo. People were quick to notice the connection between bird shit and the growth of the plant.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
