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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.
Why is mistletoe important to Christmas?
The plant’s romantic overtones most likely started with the Celtic Druids of the 1st century A.D. Because mistletoe could blossom even during the frozen winter, the Druids came to view it as a sacred symbol of vivacity, and they administered it to humans and animals alike in the hope of restoring fertility.
How did mistletoe tradition start?
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.
What is the relationship between mistletoe and Christmas?
In some versions of the tale, Frigga’s tears then turned into mistletoe berries, which brought Baldur back to life, prompting Frigga to declare mistletoe a symbol of love. It wasn’t until the 18th or 19th centuries, though, that the British started hanging mistletoe as part of Christmas celebrations.
Why do they kiss under the mistletoe?
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.
What happens if you kiss under the mistletoe?
A young lady caught under the mistletoe could not refuse to give a kiss. This was supposed to increase her chances of marriage, since a girl who wasn’t kissed could still be single next Christmas. According to ancient custom, after each kiss, one berry is removed until they are all gone.
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.
Why do we kiss?
A kiss is the touch or pressing of one’s lips against another person or an object. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, sexual activity, sexual arousal, affection, respect, greeting, friendship, peace, and good luck, among many others.
Why is it called mistletoe?
The English word for the plant is derived from a defunct Anglo-Saxon dialect. Apparently, having noticed that mistletoe often sprouts from bird droppings on tree branches, the words for dung—“mistel”—and twig—“tan”— were conjoined, and the mashup “misteltan” evolved over time into “mistletoe.”Dec 21, 2017.
Is mistletoe for Christmas or New Years?
But why exactly do we do that? The white-berried holiday mistletoe we kiss under at Christmas or New year’s Eve (if we’re lucky) is one of more than 1,300 species of mistletoe. Hanging mistletoe is a Chrismas tradition in the U.S., while in Europe, it is more commonly used as a decoration on New Year’s Eve.
Does mistletoe mean poop on a stick?
Ancient observations of the poop-on-a-stick origins of the plant led to its name “mistletoe,” or mistiltan in Old English, derived from the Anglo-Saxon words mistel, meaning “dung,” and tan, meaning “twig.” Mistletoe has been part of European winter traditions since long before the first Christmas.
What happens under the 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.
Why do people kiss with tongue?
Older research shows that for women, kissing is a way to size up a potential mate. Open mouth and tongue kissing are especially effective in upping the level of sexual arousal, because they increase the amount of saliva produced and exchanged. The more spit you swap, the more turned on you’ll get.
What kind of trees does mistletoe grow in?
While mistletoe can grow on more than 100 different types of trees, it is most often found on pecan, hickory, oaks, red maple and black gum in North Carolina. Mistletoe is a small evergreen shrub that is semi-parasitic on other plants.
What does mistletoe taste like?
There is a natural sweetness and slightly bitter taste that makes you want to drink it often. The woody notes are perfect for colder, rainy weather but can also be brewed strong and poured over ice with a slice of fresh lime!.
What is a German kiss?
This weekend, a French friend told me that a German kiss is basically a French kiss but you swirl your tongue around in circles. And dating do or don’t: Telling a guy if he’s a bad kisser. Get Glamour Wherever You Go!May 26, 2009.
What are Christmas kissing balls?
Kissing balls, or Christmas Kissing balls, are round clusters of greenery, made by tying together evergreen branches (such as ivy, holly, and pine) with twine. Traditionally, a figurine of the infant Jesus was nestled in the ball’s center.
How long does someone’s saliva stay in your mouth after you kiss?
No matter how fleeting the encounter, the DNA will hang around in their mouth for at least an hour. This means that women’s saliva could contain evidence of unwanted attention in cases of assault, or even telltale signs of infidelity.
