Kissing is a really big deal, according to science. And kissing is a really fun thing to do, according to us. Whether you’re recently single and embracing it or basically living with your S.O., all the festive holiday parties this time of year fill your heart with cheer — which is where mistletoe comes in. We all know that standing under a sprig means getting a kiss, but did you also know that tradition claims “any woman under the mistletoe cannot refuse a kiss” and that “a single woman who is not kissed under the mistletoe will remain single for the next year?” Ugh, as if. Since modern mistletoe superstitions are super lame, we created our own mistletoe kissing checklist for the holiday party season. Pucker up! Or don’t — you do you, girl. Show Mistletoe History 101Mistletoe’s romantic connections date back to the first century, when Druids revered the plant as a symbol of fertility since it could blossom even in the dead of winter. There’s also a Norse legend that tells how Loki, god of evil, killed Balder, god of the sun, with a mistletoe arrow. Frigg, goddess of love and Balder’s mother, was heartbroken, and myth has it that her tears turned into the white berries of the mistletoe bush. The gods were eventually able to bring Balder back to life and in her joy, Frigg proclaimed that no harm could befall anyone standing under a mistletoe bush. 6 Mistletoe DOS AND DON’TS1. Spring for a fresh sprig. Hostesses, opt for fresh mistletoe instead of those artificial stand-ins. No one wants to accept a real kiss under fake foliage! But be aware, mistletoe can be toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of your pooch. 2. Loitering is for skaterbois at 7-11. We’re not sure why your crush is insisting on taking their sweet time making the rounds around the room either, but that doesn’t mean you should linger by the mistletoe until they arrive by your side. Mingle, be merry and let that sweet mistletoe kiss happen spontaneously. 3. Fresh breath is festive breath. Pop a candy cane post-spinach artichoke dip if you’re looking for a lip lock under the mistletoe. This tip pulls double duty when you’re inevitably met by your close-talking aunt at the punch bowl. 4. Mistletoe kissing is not mandatory. If you find yourself standing side-by-side under the mistletoe with your boss, a stranger, or literally anyone you’re not trying to smooch, try an air kiss, hug, handshake, high five or a shoulder shrug instead. 5. Traveling mistletoe is a no-go. Call us purists, but mistletoe is meant to hang from a doorway — any other method is null and void in our book. Just say no to those cheeky officemates with mistletoe printed shirts and bar bros with the ‘toe attached to their hats. Boy, bye. 6. Give a kiss; remove a berry. Traditional mistletoe etiquette calls for the man to remove a berry from the bush after each kiss. Once all the berries are picked, kisses are no longer allowed under that mistletoe. But, you know, since this is 2016 and all, we give any consenting adult the right to remove those mistletoe berries. We’re curious: If you’ve found love underneath the mistletoe, tweet us @BritandCo and tell us your Christmas story! Trending in Entertainment
I had my first kiss when I was 13. Back then, I was shy, and I hated girls. The chance of me kissing a girl was as good as the Washington Football Team winning the Super Bowl. But one Christmas party changed everything. My first kiss was under the mistletoe, and it was unforgettable. But sadly, my first kiss was not magical. It wasn’t with the girl of my dreams but, instead, with an elderly aunt from my neighborhood. She and all the others at the party told me that if I didn't kiss her under the mistletoe I would have bad luck for eternity. So I did—and got scarred for life. For the last three decades, I have been asking myself: Why do we have to kiss under the mistletoe? Today I'm answering that question.  Decorating with mistletoe is a well-known holiday tradition almost as popular as singing carols, baking cakes, trading presents, or stringing up lights. But very few people know about mistletoe's origins and how it got wrapped around Christmas traditions. But first things first. Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant that produces small white berries and grows almost exclusively in trees. The word mistletoe comes from the Old English misteltan. Mistletoe can be spread through birds’ feces, hence it is possible that mistel derives from an obsolete, Germanic-derived noun mix, meaning “dung, filth,” with tan meaning “twig.” Hmm, I can relate to that. But wait—things get even stranger. According to Norse mythology, Frigg—the Norse goddess of love and fertility and patron of marriage—takes an oath from all things in the world to do no harm to her beloved son, but forgets to ask the mistletoe. When Frigg's son Baldr is killed by his brother Hoor’s arrow made of mistletoe, Frigg weeps over the body of her son. Her teardrops turn the mistletoe arrow into white berries. Baldr comes back to life, and Frigg promises that anyone standing beneath the mistletoe will come to no harm, but instead receive a token of love ... a kiss. The Celtic Druids also loved mistletoe because of its healing properties. They are attributed to being the first ones to use it for interior decor and festivities. But why Christmas? Well, one explanation is that the plant remains green throughout the year, even in December when everything withers, hence its association with fertility. Also, the berry of the mistletoe actually ripens in December. The earliest written record of kissing under the mistletoe as a Christmas tradition was cited in Time magazine. Historian Mark Forsyth, author of A Christmas Cornucopia: The Hidden Stories Behind Our Yuletide Traditions, does not know why kissing under the mistletoe started, but he does know that the tradition began between 1720 and 1784, in England. According to Forsyth, the most extensive book about the plant was published in 1720 by John Colbatch, an English apothecary and physician. “He had a whole section on superstitions and customs associated with mistletoe,” Forsyth says, “and doesn’t mention anything at all about kissing under mistletoe.” The earliest reference of kissing under the mistletoe that Forsyth found comes from a song published in 1784. The verses read: “What all the men, Jem, John, and Joe, Cry, ‘What good-luck has sent ye?’ And kiss beneath the mistletoe, The girl not turn’d of twenty.” In America, the Christmas mistletoe tradition was introduced by writer Washington Irving. His book The Sketch Book, published in 1820, was the bestseller of its time. Irving had returned from England and was smitten with the strange and unique Christmas traditions he had seen in Europe. He shared his experience with mistletoe in the chapter named “Christmas Eve.” A footnote reads: “The mistletoe is still hung up in farm-houses and kitchens at Christmas, and the young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under it, plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked the privilege ceases.” Irving’s book was a massive hit in America and quite possibly played a key role in mainstreaming the mistletoe. Historian Forsyth endorses this view: “Christmas was only a very, very minor festival in the early 19th century,” he explains. “Irving made the template for the modern Christmas in a lot of senses.” The rest is history, and even if all the myths you hear about the mistletoe seem unbelievable, you don’t want to risk a lifetime of bad luck. So keep calm and kiss under the mistletoe. What are the rules of mistletoe?Under a sprig of mistletoe, a man must kiss the nearest lady only on the cheek. Once the kissing is done, a berry must be removed from the mistletoe. When all of the berries are gone, the mistletoe has lost its kiss-compelling powers!
Is it cheating if you kiss under mistletoe?According to a new survey, a surprisingly large amount of folks thing kissing under the mistletoe, doesn't count as cheating. 12% of men and 10% of women say it's FINE to kiss someone besides your significant other under the mistletoe. but it's NOT okay in any other situation.
What happens if you walk under mistletoe?For most of the year we don't hear much talk about lovely mistletoe but come the winter months and christmas time, mistletoe is big news. You'll find this plant hanging in doors, wreaths, on christmas cards and decorations and the tradition says that whoever you meet underneath the misteltoe you have to kiss!
Why is it tradition to kiss under the mistletoe?The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe started in ancient Greece, during the festival of Saturnalia and later in marriage ceremonies, because of the plant's association with fertility. During the Roman era, enemies at war would reconcile their differences under the mistletoe, which to them represented peace.
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What happens if you don t kiss under the mistletoe
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