The song was originally written by Jeremy Paul, Leslie Stewart, and Keith Strachan for the 1976 stage musical Scraps , an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl .
: Co-writer Leslie Stewart initially "hated" the religious version, finding the new lyrics offensive to his non-practicing views, though he eventually embraced it as "Mistletoe and Wine 2.0". Cultural Legacy Mines mistletoe and wine .
: UK music channel Music Choice identified it as the perfect hit based on success criteria like sleigh bells and themes of love. Reviews often highlight the "lush orchestral arrangement" and "smooth vocals". christmas_time_mistletoe_and_wine
: Released as Richard's 99th single, it became the highest-selling single of 1988 , spending four weeks at number one in the UK. It sold approximately 750,000 copies in just six weeks. Critical and Public Reception
The song occupies a polarizing place in British culture, frequently appearing on lists of both the best and worst Christmas songs. The song was originally written by Jeremy Paul,
: Critics often dismiss it as "overly sentimental" or "corny". Some listeners find its ubiquitous presence in stores during the holidays irritating.
: Richard removed lines about drinking and joking, replacing them with religious references to bring the "spiritual aspect" back to Christmas. : UK music channel Music Choice identified it
: In a 1987 TV adaptation, the song was performed by a "good-time-girl" character played by Twiggy as a "lusty pub song," further removing it from its caroling aesthetic. Cliff Richard’s Transformation
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