Mistletoe is a plant that appeared briefly in the DreamWorks Dragons franchise.
Description[]
Mistletoe is a hemiparasitic plant of the order Santalales. There are over 900 species, but the most common one is the European mistletoe (Viscum album). It has smooth-edged, oval, evergreen leaves borne in pairs along the woody stem, and waxy, white berries that grow in clusters of two to six.
Mistletoe grows on trees, having the aspect of a shrub. They absorb water and nutrients from the host plant through a structure called haustorium. They also perform photosynthesis, but for a short period of time.
| “ | Remember, Mistletoe grows up in trees, so don't be looking at the ground. It's a parasite, eatin' the trees, so pick away! | ” |
| — Dagur in School of Dragons |
Function[]
It is stated in School of Dragons and Dragons: Titan Uprising that mistletoe is used as a decoration for Snoggletog, a celebration similar to Christmas, and Hogmany, a celebration similar to New Year's Eve, respectively. Like in real life, vikings have the tradition to kiss under a branch of mistletoe, which Astrid uses as inspiration for another tradition.
In Norse mythology, the god Loki uses a mistletoe arrow to kill Balder, due to it being his only weakness. In several pre-Christian cultures including ancient Greece and Celt, mistletoe is seen as a symbol of male virility.
In School of Dragons, mistletoe is "a symbol of remembrance and forgiveness", according to Fishlegs.
Appearances[]
Gift of the Night Fury[]
In a deleted scene, Astrid makes up a new tradition similar to the mistletoe, dubbing it "Missing Toe", in which she strings up a severed toe to the corner of one of the village house's roofs, and punches everyone who walks under it.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World[]
Hiccup appears to be wearing a crown of mistletoe around his head during his wedding to Astrid at the finale of this film. This is mirrored in the ancient belief that the plant aids in male virility.
Games[]
School of Dragons[]
Mistletoe is briefly mentioned in a stable quest as a decoration for Snoggletog.
It later figures prominently during Snoggletog 2021, in which Fishlegs narrates the story of Baldur, and the player must find some mistletoe on Zippleback Island.
Dragons: Titan Uprising[]
Mistletoe is briefly mentioned in the description of the Deadly Nadder New Years Stormfly.
| “ | Whatever it is, when Hogmany comes around, she can be seen sitting under the mistletoe, dancing the dance of the Huldrefolk, and waiting for the sun to peak above the horizon for the first time in almost two weeks. | ” |
| — Dragons: Titan Uprising |
