Decoding the custom of kissing under the mistletoe on Christmas Eve

Every Christmas season, when Western cities begin to glow with decorative lights and festive music, images of couples kissing under mistletoe branches appear frequently in movies, social networks and public spaces.

Kissing under the mistletoe is actually a long-standing custom, reflecting the intersection of ancient beliefs, folk culture and modern life.

Mistletoe is a parasite that grows on other trees, has green leaves all year round and has small white fruits. Since ancient times, the tree has been considered a sacred symbol. In Norse mythology, the most popular story about mistletoe involves the god Balder, son of the goddess Frigga (goddess of love). Balder was killed by the god Loki with an arrow made from mistletoe. Frigga’s tears fell, turning the mistletoe from red to white and reviving Balder. Delighted, Frigga blessed the mistletoe, and whoever stood under the branch would receive a kiss as a wish of love and peace.

The ancient Celtic people (Druids) also worshiped mistletoe as a symbol of life, because the plant is green even in winter. They used it in healing and reconciliation rituals, enemies who met under the mistletoe would stop fighting. The Romans and Greeks associated mistletoe with love and fertility. These beliefs gradually blended into Christmas as Christianity spread.

The custom of kissing under the mistletoe was recorded in the 18th century in England, originating from the working class and then spreading to the Victorian aristocracy. During Christmas parties, mistletoe branches are often hung in the door frame or in the center of the room.

According to custom, a man and a woman stand under the mistletoe, they can give each other a kiss as a wish for lasting love and good luck in the new year. In some lacrimal regions, each berry on a mistletoe branch represents a kiss. After each kiss, the man gets to pick one fruit. When the fruit runs out, the privilege ends. A woman refusing a kiss under the mistletoe can be considered an unlucky omen in love.

This custom reflects the social context of old times, when the rules of communication between men and women were still rigid. In modern society, the meaning of the mistletoe kiss has been reinterpreted as voluntary, fun, and symbolic rather than a mandatory ritual.

In recent decades, kissing under the mistletoe is no longer limited to family spaces or private parties. Many cities have incorporated this symbol into public activities, turning it into a tourist highlight during the holiday season. In the UK, US or Canada, visitors can easily encounter giant mistletoe installations in central squares, shopping areas or Christmas markets.

The most prominent festival associated with mistletoe takes place in Tenbury Wells, a small town in Worcestershire, England, known as the “Mistletoe Capital of England”. This year, the Tenbury Mistletoe Festival is held in early December, attracting tourists with activities such as the Christmas parade, the ceremony honoring the “Mistletoe Queen” and the Christmas market, contributing to turning this traditional custom into a local cultural and tourist highlight during the festive season.

This custom also attracted attention in Washington DC, USA. In the center of the capital, the art installation “National Mistletoe” is displayed, a giant mistletoe ball weighing 272 kg, hanging at a height of 9 m. On December 13, 1,435 couples shared a kiss lasting at least 5 seconds, breaking the previous record of 480 couples set in 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

The vitality of kissing under the mistletoe is also reinforced by popular culture. This image appears repeatedly in many Hollywood Christmas movies such as Love Actually, When Harry Met Sallywhere the kiss under the mistletoe is often placed at an emotional climax, associated with reunion and reconciliation.

On social networks, videos capturing moments of kissing under the mistletoe at the Christmas market, central square or holiday shopping district continue to spread every year. For international tourists, stopping under the mistletoe branch in the middle of a city lit up with Christmas lights not only has personal meaning, but also becomes a way to experience and remember the festive spirit of the destination.