What does kissing under the mistletoe symbolize?

The origins of kissing under the mistletoe, a plant that often bears white berries, are often traced to a tale in Norse mythology about the god Baldur. In many tellings, Frigg declares the mistletoe to be a symbol of love after her son’s death and promises to kiss anyone who passed underneath it.

Is kissing under the mistletoe cheating?

Mistletoe is almost a binding legal contract! Women were more forgiving of mistletoe kisses, 41\% say it’s not cheating, compared to 34\% of men. Older people are also MUCH cooler with their significant other kissing people under the mistletoe than younger people.

Is kissing under the mistletoe pagan?

Where did the ritual of kissing under the mistletoe at Christmas time come from and what’s so special about it? In Scandinavia, mistletoe is associated with the pagan goddess Frigga who is married to Odin, king of all the Norse gods. She is also the Norse goddess of love and mother of Balder, god of the summer sun.

What’s the story behind mistletoe?

In the Norse culture, the Mistletoe plant was a sign of love and peace. The story goes that the goddess, Figg lost her son, the god Baldur, to an arrow made of mistletoe. After his death, she vowed that Mistletoe would kiss anyone who passed beneath so long as it was never again used as a weapon.

What happens if you don’t kiss under the mistletoe?

The tradition said that it’s bad luck to refuse to be kissed under the mistletoe. That being said, make sure that you don’t eat the berries because they may be poisonous. It’s an interesting tradition that has its roots in ancient history.

What happens when two people are under mistletoe?

According to custom, if you’re caught standing under the mistletoe, you may get a kiss. According to happier versions of the legend, Baldur (sometimes spelled Baldr or Balder) was killed by an enemy’s arrow made of mistletoe. His mother, the goddess Frigg, wept tears onto the arrow.

Who started the mistletoe kissing?

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.

Why do people kiss with their eyes closed?

Most people can’t focus on anything as close as a face at kissing distance so closing your eyes saves them from looking at a distracting blur or the strain of trying to focus. Kissing can also make us feel vulnerable or self-conscious and closing your eyes is a way of making yourself more relaxed.

Do people actually kiss underneath the mistletoe?

In ancient times, visitors would kiss the hand of a host under the mistletoe when they arrived as a way of honouring the Norse legend. Since then, the tradition has evolved to the custom we all know – if a woman is caught standing under the mistletoe, a man may kiss her . They eat deep fried caterpillars on Christmas day.

Do you have to be directly under mistletoe to kiss?

There is NO obligation to kiss under a mistletoe hanging from any hand, hat, nose or belt buckle. The Mistletoe is not a portable kissing booth or pornographic photo op. If asked for a kiss from someone swinging the greenery from a frisky hand, you may tell them to kiss your you-know-what.

What does kissing underneath the mistletoe mean?

In some countries, kissing under a ball of mistletoe was even seen as a marriage promise. As time passed, the tradition slowly transformed and as it stands today a woman standing underneath the mistletoe cannot refuse a kiss – refusal would be bad luck. Receiving a kiss under the mistletoe is a sign of romance or lasting friendship .

Why do we kiss underneath the mistletoe?

The reason there isn’t one clear explanation why we kiss underneath mistletoe is because the plant has been linked to many stories and traditions over hundreds of years, and different people see it in different ways. One of the more common meanings is that mistletoe is seen as a symbol of fertility and life – and…