The Holiday Kissing Ball: A New Twist on an Historic Tradition

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Dec 04, 2014, 10:48 ET

HODGES, S.C., Dec. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Decorating with fresh-cut evergreens has been a beloved tradition for centuries and still is today. An evergreen accent that's increasing in popularity is the kissing ball, which has its origins in the Middle Ages. Villagers would create ball-shaped ornaments made of twine and evergreen branches. In the center, they would place a clay figure of an infant representing the baby Jesus. Called "holy boughs," they were hung from the ceiling along passages in castles and large houses. They were said to render blessings to those who passed beneath.

Cardinal Noble Fir Evergreen Kissing Ball

With the new religious fervor sweeping through England and Europe from the 17^th through the early 19^th centuries, such decorations were frowned upon. But many people yearned for the beauty and symbolism of those traditional accents, and during the Victorian era, the kissing ball and other evergreen arrangements came back into fashion, but in a different way.

Sprigs of holly, evergreen, and sweet herbs would be stuck into a potato or apple until it bristled with natural decorations. These deliciously scented "sweet balls" brought welcome fragrance to people's dwellings. As was common during the Victorian period, the herbs and plants depicted love, affection, charity, piety, or a variety of other emotions, and by the end of the 19^th century, kissing balls represented romantic love. Ballrooms were often adorned with kissing balls hung from the ceiling. Sometimes a sprig of mistletoe was added, and unmarried maidens would line up, awaiting their chance to stand beneath it and receive a kiss!

Kissing balls began to disappear during the 20^th century, with mistletoe remaining on its own as the symbol of romance and love. However, over the last few years, they've made another comeback, and now they're all the rage for holiday parties.

Jackson & Perkins has one of the most beautiful collections of evergreen decorations found anywhere, including the gorgeous Cardinal Noble Fir Kissing Ball, which offers fresh woodsy fragrance, natural wintry color, and a delightful texture! It might just be your favorite seasonal accent of all!

Jackson & Perkins, founded in 1872, is to this day the world's foremost hybridizer of garden roses, with more award-winning rose introductions than any other company. It was only natural to translate that garden expertise into the finest line of living holiday gifts.

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SOURCE Jackson & Perkins