At Christmas, it is traditional to exchange kisses beneath the mistletoe tree. In ancient Scandinavia, mistletoe was associated with peace and friendship. That may account for the custom of "kissing beneath the mistletoe".
Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe at Christmas
The holiday kissing tradition hiding above your doorway has roots in ancient Scandinavia, where mistletoe was far more than festive decoration—it was a sacred symbol of peace that could stop wars.
In Norse mythology, mistletoe plays a tragic role in the death of Baldur, the beloved god of light and innocence. His mother, the goddess Frigg, made every plant and creature in the world promise not to harm her son. But she overlooked one seemingly insignificant plant: mistletoe. The trickster god Loki exploited this oversight, fashioning the plant into a weapon that killed Baldur.
From Tragedy to Symbol of Love
After Baldur's resurrection, Frigg transformed mistletoe's meaning entirely. The plant that had caused such grief became a symbol of love, peace, and friendship. She vowed that anyone passing beneath mistletoe would receive a kiss of affection rather than harm.
This mythological redemption arc gave mistletoe powerful cultural significance throughout Scandinavia and beyond.
The Ancient Peace Treaty Plant
The peace symbolism had real-world applications in ancient Nordic and Druid cultures:
- Enemies encountering each other under forest mistletoe would lay down their weapons and observe a truce until the next day
- Even mortal foes meeting beneath the plant by accident had to exchange a kiss of peace
- During Roman Saturnalia festivals, mistletoe marked zones where conflicts must be set aside
The kiss exchanged under mistletoe wasn't necessarily romantic—it often signified friendship, goodwill, and the end of hostilities.
Evolution to Christmas Tradition
The kissing custom as we know it today emerged in 18th-century England, blending these ancient peace traditions with holiday festivities. The romantic connotations developed gradually, transforming a symbol of reconciliation between enemies into a excuse for holiday flirtation.
Mistletoe itself is a parasitic plant that grows on trees, which added to its mystical reputation. Ancient cultures wondered how a plant could thrive in winter without roots in the ground, attributing magical properties to its unusual biology.
So when you're standing beneath the mistletoe this Christmas, you're participating in a tradition that once stopped Viking warriors mid-battle and brought peace to ancient enemies. That holiday kiss carries the weight of centuries—a small gesture descended from a powerful symbol of reconciliation and love.