<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> <P> In some Western cultures, it is a custom for people to kiss at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve . Some hold the superstition that failing to kiss someone ensures a year of loneliness . </P> <P> When celebrating at a Scottish Hogmanay party, it is custom to try to give a kiss to everyone in the room after the stroke of midnight "the bells". </P>

Bride and groom kiss for the first time