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Where did the practice of kissing under... | Almanac.com

Where did the practice of kissing under...

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Where did the practice of kissing under the mistletoe come from?
Answer
Known as β€œthe healing plant,” mistletoe was used by the ancient Celts and was a big part of their winter solstice celebrations. The plant contains progesterone, the female sex hormone, and perhaps this is why it became associated with kissing. The kissing custom goes back to England in the 1600s. A gentleman would pluck one berry for each kiss on a maiden’s cheek. When the berries were gone, no more kissing was allowed.