One of the best things about the holidays, in our view, is the fun we have in transforming our homes for the season. Whether we’re baking up cookies in the kitchen or decorating the mantel with cedar boughs, we’re busy creating a cozy, inviting environment for our families and guests. Our decorative and culinary traditions run the gamut, from mistletoe to silver bells to spice cakes and eggnog. Many of those customs come in floral form, intimately connected to what nature gives us during the coldest part of the year. It’s one of these traditions that Bagoy’s Florist & Home is celebrating today.

It’s called the Christmas Kissing Ball, and you may have seen it in various guises. Usually presented in pomander (round) form, kissing balls are comprised of mistletoe or other greenery, ribbons, bows, berries, willow and pine cones. Once upon a time (by which we mean Victorian England), kissing balls were a major part of holiday decor. They were hung in doorways, a cheerful little invitation to kiss anyone you may meet under them. The idea came from Scandinavian myth, after the goddess Freyja’s son was killed. Supposedly, she shed tears that turned into mistletoe’s white berries. She was so sad that the other Norse gods brought her son back to life. In gratitude, Freyja would kiss anyone who passed under the mistletoe.

Our version can be hung or affixed to your own stand. It’s teeming with ornamentation, ribbons, berries and more. Want to make your own mistletoe craft? Start with paper or other material. Mistletoe is poisonous, and tricky to come by in bulk, so spring for artificial instead. Then you can craft a safe, simple sprig or two using this helpful step-by-step to adorn those spaces where pets and kids might be tempted to pull it down. Make your home merry and bright with fresh florals and homemade crafts that work beautifully together.