Xtmas Debate Challenge

Mistletoe is surrounded by legend, folklore, myths and traditions associated with it. My questions is, what do you think of the Kissing under the mistletoe tradition? Good? Bad? Bizarre? Are you pro or against it? Should it be kept or eradicated? Perhaps like Luna you have some dark theories about mistletoe and what it hides.

Let the debate begin! Points will be award according to the effort put in your posts.

The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe has been a tradition for so long that many people have lost track of how it started and of how you are supposed to 'properly kiss' under the mistletoe. I'm one of the English tradition, where you're supposed to take a berry from the mistletoe every time a kiss is shared under it and once the berries are gone, so should the kisses be. The idea that the kisses must be used wisely, as opposed to given freely to everyone who happens to stop beneath it, makes these seasonal kisses all the more special in my eyes.

I'm certainly pro mistletoe kisses, even more so if it's done in the English tradition, though I've never had the pleasure to receive one myself. Kissing under the mistletoe has been romanticized through the media and I see nothing wrong with this. It's another aspiration to try and reach in my life, to be stopped under the mistletoe and have a person kiss me right then and there. The kind of kiss wouldn't matter so much as the sentiment.

The tradition itself of kissing someone under the mistletoe isn't harmful and in a time of the holidays you're supposed to be showing the people that you love that you care about them. However, even if you're kissing a stranger under the mistletoe, there isn't anything wrong with that either - so long as that stranger is okay with you kissing them. Like anything else in life, people can take things and use them for the wrong reasons, but so long as someone is using mistletoe for good, it's a tradition that should continue to be a part of the Christmas holiday.

Mistletoe kisses are innocent fun in almost all cases. It's not like people end up going through with unwanted advances under the mistletoe. Mistletoe is most commonly put in public places and someone would speak up easily if a situation got out of hand. A person could simply push away the offending party and 'cause a scene' that would alert everyone present of the situation. Mistletoe isn't put up in dark alleys or corners and is meant to be a fun thing.

I'm going to argue that our world hasn't changed as much as people tend to proclaim it has. Our world is just as innocent as it used to be, or just as guilty as it used to be, if you want to look at it that way. No one knows when the mistletoe tradition even started, so it's impossible to judge that the world was 'a more innocent place'. Furthermore, people haven't gained natures to make them terrible. The difference between now and then (whenever 'then' was) is that now everything bad in the world is highly publicized. We know almost every terrible thing that happens, stories and statistics are everywhere but just because the information is now available to everyone does not mean that people weren't doing the same things in the past.

I don't need mistletoe to kiss my wife either, but a fun tradition has never harmed a relationship. Anyone who would assault someone in such a manner would do so with or without the presence of mistletoe, there'd be another reason for them to do so. So the presence of mistletoe won't cause people to be put in a situation where they could get injured or uncomfortable. Likewise, there is no one forcing anyone to participate in the tradition of mistletoe kisses. If you feel uncomfortable standing by yourself under the mistletoe (which would be the only way that you could get caught off guard by unwanted kisses) simply don't stand under the mistletoe. It's not like mistletoe is invisible to people, if you're observant than you'd see it and simply avoid it. No need to spoil the fun for everyone else.

Mistletoe kisses are a tradition that should be carried on for years to come and should be encouraged as a safe and fun tradition.

I must agree with Amber on the innocence of the Mistletoe. I don't think anyone puts up Mistletoe with any malicious intent of assaulting anyone under it, and agree with her point that the world is not any more horrible than it's been in the past, everything is just publicized a lot more than it would have been whenever the Mistletoe tradition was started. The only time Mistletoes are really used is at things like Christmas parties, where there's a great number of people around, so it would be very difficult for someone to abuse what the Mistletoe offers.

I think it's a very cute tradition, though I was unaware of the English tradition Amber described earlier which I think adds a new depth to the mistletoe, instead of just kissing someone, you actually share something with them. I wish this aspect of the Mistletoe was shown more in the media (though I guess traditions do change overtime, and this one has fallen slightly out of the mainstream by now), because I think it really brings out the Christmas lesson of sharing love and joy with others.

However, I disagree with Amber over how easily Mistletoe kisses should be given away. I don't think you should sharing Mistletoe kisses with any stranger that happens to be standing under it, too. I think Mistletoes should be reserved whom you truly care about, and want to remind them how much you love them! However, I do think Mistletoes would make a great first kiss with someone if you've both been crushing on each other, and just need that extra push into starting a relationship.

I have only ever seen real mistletoe the once so I've not got much to say about it. A man was selling it at a London street corner on boxing day. Every year but that year my Christmas has been reserved to Scotland where I guess we're not into the mistletoe tradition as much. I have seen plastic replicas with berries the size of tennis balls in one primary school disco but no-one payed them any notice, after all at thet age no-ones going to kiss under the mistletoe. Besides, supermarkets hang the same things optimistically but are you going to snog someone in the bread aisle. If real mistletoe was hung in decent places such as discos for adults or teenagers then it might become more popular in Scotland. However if it was, I surely would be hiding from it.

Being a person from a more Latin culture I find it interesting that in English speaking countries where cultures/people are so uptight about contact/personal distance they would have such a lavish tradition! I mean, I get it in the old days was a way for lovers to snog with permission but how the tradition lasted baffles me, it just does not have a place in today's world anymore, public-wise, when sexual harassment lawsuits pop up like mushrooms on rainy days! If it was only kept at home where family/friends could do it, I guess I'd be acceptable and I'd understand it.

Personally I think it's should BANISHED, ABOLISHED! NO FORM OF AFFECTIONS ALLOWED... I should bring that decree back...

amberg93 - 200 HP
amortentia773 - 100 HP
LilyFlower - 100 HP
stephy - 50 HP
Ellen - 50 HP
Raistlin The Wizard - 50 HP