Christmas traditions help make the holiday season special. Besides decorating our Christmas tree with colored lights and ornaments, placing a Nativity scene on the mantle and hanging stockings by the chimney with care, another long-held tradition is hanging a sprig of mistletoe to encourage couples to sneak a holiday kiss. This tradition became part of Christmas celebrations in England during the 18th century and has been included in our own Christmas celebrations as well.

According to a Norse legend, Loki, the god of evil, tricked Hoth, Balder’s blind brother, into shooting an arrow of mistletoe that killed Balder. Frigga, their mother, was distraught and cried tears that fell on the mistletoe, turning its berries white. She declared that mistletoe would never again be used to harm anyon

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