People are only just realising why we kiss under the mistletoe

29 December 2023 , 08:00

626     0

Kissing under the mistletoe is a well known Christmas tradition - but have you ever wondered why? (Image: Getty Images)

'Tis the season for romance and joy, thanks to endless cheesy rom-coms, twinkly lights and festive date nights. And one of the Christmas traditions we all know and love is kissing under the mistletoe.

It's a rather unusual activity that many people follow without much thought, but have you ever wondered where it came from? It's something that's been around since the 18th century, and one of the historical tales it dervies from comes from Norse mythology and dates back thousands of years.

In the UK, mistletoe is something we associate with Christmas and decoration, whereas in France it is given on New Year as a sign of good luck. The Victorians were the first to start puckering up as they popularised the tradition.

According to The History Channel, Frigg, the goddess of love in Norwegian and Scandinavian mythology, promised to kiss anyone who "passed under the berry-laden plant" after it saved her son's life. It then made its way to England in the 18th century and the custom picked up in popularity.

Another part of the early custom - and another tale from the Middle Ages - saw the belief that men were allowed to "steal a kiss" from any woman who was standing under a mistletoe branch. If they refused, it was seen as bad luck. "Another tradition instructed the merrymakers to pluck a single berry from the mistletoe with each kiss and to stop smooching once they were all gone," the channel reports.

Top 20 excuses Brits use to cancel a date - from sickness to work emergency

Another reason why people kiss under the mistletoe is that the plant is seen as a symbol of "fertility and life" according to BBC. Because of this, it could be why people decide to kiss under it. It's also a plant that stays green and can grow around trees when the temperatures plummet at other trees and plants have died. Another reason is that the berries that grow are left to grow due to birds not flying as much.

Many people have their own reasoning for kissing under the mistletoe and it's linked to all different stories and traditions, but whatever you believe in, whenever you see a mistletoe make sure you pucker up.

Niamh Kirk