Mistletoe is a plant mentioned 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 are 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 do perform photosynthesis, but for a short period of time.
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.
Appearances
Gift of the Night Fury
In a deleted scene, Astrid makes up a new tradition similar to the mistletoe, in which she strings up a severed toe to the corner of one of the Berk house's roofs, punching everyone who walks under it.
School of Dragons
Mistletoe is briefly mentioned in a stable quest as a decoration for Snoggletog.
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 |
Trivia
Gallery
