Why do people kiss under the mistletoe?

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Why: Why?

Answer: The ancient Druids believed mistletoe to be a magical plant that could cure illness, protect against witchcraft, and make sterile animals fertile. They held feasts and sacrificed white bulls underneath it. Ancient Scandinavians viewed mistletoe as a plant of peace. If enemies met by chance beneath it, they disarmed and maintained a truce until the next day. This led to kissing under the mistletoe, but also fits with this Norse myth:

Baldur's mother was the Norse goddess, Frigga. When Baldur was born, Frigga made each and every plant, animal and inanimate object promise not to harm Baldur. But Frigga overlooked the mistletoe plant - and the mischievous god of the Norse myths, Loki, took advantage of this oversight. Ever the prankster, Loki tricked one of the other gods into killing Baldur with a spear fashioned from mistletoe. The demise of Baldur, a vegetation deity, brought winter into the world. The gods did eventually restore Baldur to life, and Frigga pronounced the mistletoe sacred, ordering that from now on it should bring love rather than death into the world. Happily complying with Frigga's wishes, any two people passing under the plant from now on would celebrate Baldur's resurrection by kissing under the mistletoe.

The plant is also associated with ancient erotica.

• It is thought to be an aphrodisiac and a fertility herb.
• It may possess abortifacient qualities, which would help explain its association with uninhibited sexuality.
• Greek festivals and marital ceremonies involve exchanging kisses under the mistletoe.
• In France, the tradition was reserved for New Year's Day - "Au gui l'An neuf" (Mistletoe for the New Year).
  
• If a couple in love kisses under the mistletoe, it is a promise to marry, as well as a prediction of happiness and long life.

Ancient Anglo-Saxons associate the powers of mistletoe with Freya, the Norse goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. A man had to kiss any girl who accidentally found herself a sprig of the plant hanging from the ceiling. After each kiss, the man would pluck a berry from the mistletoe. When all the berries were gone, the kissing stopped.

Source: About.com, CoolQuiz.com/trivia

The More You Know: Two things!

1. Mistletoe is a parasitic shrub that grows in trees. It puts its roots into its hosts to steal nutrients. Scandal! It looks like this:

2. The word mistletoe means "dung on a twig." Pre-scientific Europeans noted that the plant burst forth - as if by magic - on branches where birds had pooped. Mistel is the ancient Anglo-Saxon word for "dung," and tan means "twig."