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A Christmas Tradition, Also a Greek One

When Christmas comes along we think of Santa Claus, presents and mistletoe. Those who have significant others can’t wait to run under the mistletoe so they can give that special someone their Christmas kiss. Those who don’t have significant others can’t wait to see who the Christmas spirit will bring to them so they can have their Christmas kiss.
The word mistletoe comes from the old English word mistiltan, which the meaning of the word is uncertain but it could be related to the German word mist, which means branch. In Ancient Greece there was something similar to the mistletoe we have today, which was called Viscum album and it was believed to be The Golden Bough of Aeneas ancestor of the Romans. In ancient Greece the mistletoe was believed to have life giving powers and granted fertility.
Today in Greece the mistletoe is called gi (γκυ), which means all of the plants that we use for Christmas or that grow during the Christmas season. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe comes from England but it is done in Greece as well.
So who will you kiss under the mistletoe this year.

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