Why Do We Kiss Under the Mistletoe? The Tradition's Magical and Tragic Origins

It’s the holiday season's unofficial wingman, but why do we actually kiss under the mistletoe? The answer isn't just simple romance; it's a story woven from ancient magic, Norse tragedy, and some very specific 19th-century rules.

From Ancient Magic to Norse Mythology

Long before it dangled above doorways, mistletoe was considered magical. Ancient Greeks and Romans believed it had serious healing powers. The fact that it stayed green and produced berries in winter, when most plants were dying, ended up making it feel almost supernatural. Around the first century A.D., the Celtic Druids viewed it as a sacred symbol of vitality and fertility, believing it existed somewhere between heaven and Earth.

The story takes a tragic turn in Norse mythology. According to legend, the goddess of love, Frigg, made everything in nature promise not to harm her son Baldur. She forgot mistletoe. The menace Loki used it to kill Baldur. In some later versions, Baldur is revived, and a relieved Frigg declares mistletoe a symbol of love, promising a kiss to anyone who passes beneath it.

A Christmas Ritual is Born

Historians generally agree that kissing under the mistletoe became a popular custom in England sometime between the early and late 1700s. By the 19th century, the tradition had fully entered pop culture with very specific rules: each kiss required plucking a berry, and once the berries were gone, the kissing license expired. Refusing a kiss was considered bad luck, though modern interpretations thankfully allow for consent.

The tradition crossed the Atlantic thanks to author Washington Irving, who documented English Christmas customs in the early 1800s. His popular writings helped shape the version of Christmas many recognize today, mistletoe smooches included.

That said, a quick public service announcement: mistletoe berries are toxic. So please, kiss responsibly and don't snack on the decor.