<P> It is a Christmas custom for a couple who meet under a mistletoe to kiss . Mistletoe is commonly used as a Christmas decoration, though such use was rarely alluded to until the 18th century . The tradition has spread throughout the English - speaking world but is largely unknown in the rest of Europe . It was described in 1820 by American author Washington Irving in his The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.: </P> <P> The mistletoe is still hung up in farm - houses and kitchens at Christmas, and the young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under it, plucking each time a berry from the bush . When the berries are all plucked the privilege ceases . </P> <P> Some claim that the origin of the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe goes back to ancient Norse mythology . According to the myth, a goddess named Frigg had a son named Baldr . When he was born, she made all plants unable to hurt him . Yet she overlooked the mistletoe plant, and a god known for his mischief, Loki, tricked another god into killing Baldr with a spear made of mistletoe . The gods eventually brought Baldr back to life, and Frigg declared that mistletoe would bring love rather than death into the world . People then kissed under the mistletoe to obey the goddess, as well as to remember Baldr's resurrection . </P> <P> Another theory is that the tradition originated in the ancient Babylonian - Assyrian Empire . Single women apparently stood under mistletoe hung outside the temple for the goddess of beauty and love . They were expected to bond with the first man that approached them - but they did not kiss . Historically, mistletoe was seen as a supernatural, healing plant . It was believed to promote fertility, and its leaves were said to be an aphrodisiac . Mistletoe was once a part of marriage ceremonies for this reason, and was placed under couples' beds for good luck . The tradition later was found in England, when young men would kiss women standing under the mistletoe, and would pluck a berry from the bush after each kiss . After all the berries were gone, it was bad luck to continue kissing under that bush . It is important to remember that during this period a kiss was taken very seriously - it was usually seen as a promise of marriage . </P>

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