Why do we kiss under mistletoe?

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Why do we kiss under mistletoe? - Carlos Reif

Рет қаралды 952,110

Күн бұрын

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/less...
The sight of mistletoe may either send you scurrying or, if you have your eye on someone, awaiting an opportunity beneath its snow-white berries. But how did the festive tradition of kissing under mistletoe come about? Carlos Reif explains how this long-lived custom intertwines the mythology and biology of this intriguing plant.
Lesson by Carlos Reif, animation by CUB Animation.

Пікірлер: 598

@mermaidlover362 7 жыл бұрын

Funny, I've never actually seen a mistletoe before.

@creepycrafter2469 7 жыл бұрын

Winter Snow me neither

@phlox_and_eggs 7 жыл бұрын

Ha Ha it is everywhere where I live, in almost every tree. I think it thrives in rural areas only, but also you need to be looking for it to see it. Often, it just blends in with the tree's color.

@LynHannan 7 жыл бұрын

It doesn't blend too well with gum trees, they end up looking sick with too much yellowy green. I've never noticed any berries or flowers though. Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing any in urban areas at all, maybe the birds and other critters that spread it don't like "civilisation", can't blame them for that either.

@brokenconstellation 5 жыл бұрын

Me neither. It's not even in our Christmas tradition

@guccispaud9321 5 жыл бұрын

You

@ullumini7538 7 жыл бұрын

My friend joined the student council and suggested placing mistletoe in random places, hoping to bring me and my crush together.

@silverstar1251 5 жыл бұрын

wao ur fren is so kind. mine would just straight up shove me in my crush's face and go "KISS KISS FALL IN LOVE"

@CallMeBeautifulRacoon 5 жыл бұрын

You have a good friend, hope you have a long lasting friendship

@ba.nguyen 4 жыл бұрын

u have a nice friend wow

@shonthacreator6146 4 жыл бұрын

@@silverstar1251 your friend be like: LOVE DAMN IT LOVE

@mgc9965 3 жыл бұрын

Ok how did it go

@gokinsmen 7 жыл бұрын

"Mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it." "But a kiss can be even deadlier if you mean it."

@MyNguyen-ph5si 7 жыл бұрын

gokinsmen this quote made me the most confuse person watching through this video.

@nabihaasif2999 5 жыл бұрын

That’s deep.....

@trishawallingsford4146 4 жыл бұрын

Batman and Catwoman realizing who they are ❤️💜❤️💜❤️

@shauwiliss6738 4 жыл бұрын

I eat them bc I know WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IF YOU DON'T EAT IT

@randomlad1157 3 жыл бұрын

Ooooooooooh that could be a good comic to make.... I'mma make one cause you inspired me to do it

@wa77iok20 7 жыл бұрын

"Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?" Idk about you but I for sure don't

@philipshin7016 7 жыл бұрын

I'm with you guys

@timrthoward7007 7 жыл бұрын

what do you mean "we"

@alicialim8198 5 жыл бұрын

TimRT Howard has

@lilyjay8530 5 жыл бұрын

TimRT Howard hahahahaha

@shreenidhhi8633 3 жыл бұрын

Lollll

@selaimaohoumaleeia967 3 жыл бұрын

And "our"

@user-ub4rl3nx1d 7 жыл бұрын

We kiss under mistletoe because it is poisonous and we like to poison each other's relationships. Done.

@gralteindauphinois7793 7 жыл бұрын

TeppingProductions dam

@lingefisiopagano1481 2 жыл бұрын

we get it. you've never been in a relationship before.

@jemileedabear9630 6 жыл бұрын

0:31 if drawing were that easy...

@SilentMover95 7 жыл бұрын

Dear diary, Day 194 under a mistletoe : Still nothing. Perhaps people have forgotten about what it means to be under a mistletoe. I should make a sign. The wait for my first kiss continues....

@cookiebombcasualemail5284 7 жыл бұрын

just make like clyde mcbride and just carry the damn thing around on your head

@TheMihig 7 жыл бұрын

0:30 that is some next level drawing technique

@erikziak1249 7 жыл бұрын

Surprise: We do not kiss unter mistletoe. I have not been kissed by anybody in decades! (goes crying in corner).

@lilym2543 7 жыл бұрын

Erik Žiak same

@blaby4ever 7 жыл бұрын

Never kissed anyone romantically period

@tormentedangel667 7 жыл бұрын

*she hugged and pat his/her back*just let your feelings out

@cubesolver2564 7 жыл бұрын

*pats back* There, there.

@crazyanyone372 4 жыл бұрын

Same

@ojsimp14 7 жыл бұрын

Even under Mistletoe, I don't get kissed. Usually just get pepper sprayed. Who needs kisses when you have the Internet! ...hug me...

@lindan7238 7 жыл бұрын

Zachary Chestnutt *hug*

@cea2995 7 жыл бұрын

HUGS FOR ALL!

@JadenTapscott 7 жыл бұрын

Zachary Chestnutt I'll hug you because I sympathize.

@chelefries 7 жыл бұрын

*hugs*HUUGGGZZZZZ

@wonuscheck6941 7 жыл бұрын

Zachary Chestnutt pulls pepper spray from bag

@mrblue.tit.8906 7 жыл бұрын

you should be very cautious of nargles while kissing under some, they're often infested (satire)

@lindan7238 7 жыл бұрын

Mr Blue.tit. "What are nargles?"

@mrblue.tit.8906 7 жыл бұрын

They're a fictional assumed to be extinct creature, you won't find much information of their existence on Google becuse they're not real, so save yourself the trouble... But if they were real they are said to be a mischievous creature that live in missletoe. :) hope that helps. +Linda Nguyen

@lindan7238 7 жыл бұрын

Mr Blue.tit. thats unfortunate but thank you

@CrazyGoGoVrose 7 жыл бұрын

some harry potter rubbish then... harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Nargle

@mrblue.tit.8906 7 жыл бұрын

CrazyGoGoVrose glad to see the the ministry is doing a great job on controling muggles who know too much (lol joke!!) my sources actually come from the 'fantastic beats and where to find them' written by newt scammers (which has been an approved book for muggles to read)

@MrC0MPUT3R 7 жыл бұрын

Technically Loki didn't kill Baldr, but tricked the blind god Höðr into shooting him while Loki guided his hands.

@ohno8398 7 жыл бұрын

Poor Hodr still got blamed though...

@luc9766 5 жыл бұрын

Also, the gods didn't resurrect Baldr, he was freed from Hel when the Ragnarok ended

@Niker107 7 жыл бұрын

Lovely animation in this video, and the amount of stuff you could say about the mistletoe far surpasses how simple it appears! Thank you very much.

@soumyadeepmandal5624 7 жыл бұрын

Because Justin Bieber told us to

@rahafashqar 5 жыл бұрын

Best comment ever😂💜

@user-jm6gp2qc8x 5 жыл бұрын

😂😂

@marcuscole9430 3 жыл бұрын

Yeahhhh

@dee6818 3 жыл бұрын

Yes 🤣

@hemshah4127 7 жыл бұрын

In Harry Potter, Harry kissed Cho Chang under a misteltoe

@Slashplite 7 жыл бұрын

nerd

@Slashplite 7 жыл бұрын

jk jk :D

@hemshah4127 7 жыл бұрын

Slashplite I am not a nerd 🤓 but I have watched and read 📖 all Harry Potter movies 🎥 and books 📚 many times. So I know this.

@tanyay1073 7 жыл бұрын

Hem Shah Yaaasss....I wish it was Ginny though 😂

@hemshah4127 7 жыл бұрын

Tanya Y No I really don't like Ginny. I think 🤔 Cho Chang would be a lot better.

@Vulppix 7 жыл бұрын

Why do people confuse mistletoe toe with holly? I have a social art app that I use and 90% of the time others draw holly instead of mistletoe.

@caterscarrots3407 7 жыл бұрын

Maybe because they don't know what mistletoe is, just that it is a poisonous plant and they know that holly is also poisonous

@molly2846 7 жыл бұрын

I think it's because holly is seen more often. Mistletoe has different shaped leaves and white berries instead of red, but they have enough similarities to be confused by a person who's never seen mistletoe.

@CadetGriffin 7 жыл бұрын

So are pines, firs and spruces poisonous too?

@anjobanjo5643 7 жыл бұрын

What's the name of the app?

@hana-qs6mo 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah what is the app name

@quartzmaya 7 жыл бұрын

I love how this channel answers questions for me that I never thought to ask before! :D

@dianaramirez8799 7 жыл бұрын

We watch Ted talks in my class.

@darylp2280 7 жыл бұрын

The Penas awesome school to adapt to technology and apply it in the classroom

@pootlovato8285 7 жыл бұрын

The Penas because you have lazy teachers

@darylp2280 7 жыл бұрын

Poot Lovato jealousy will get you nowhere

@pootlovato8285 7 жыл бұрын

Daryl Perpignan students can watch these videos at home teachers need to teach and stop being lazy

@childofda80s 7 жыл бұрын

Poot Lovato yes because all students have computers and Internet at home.

@utson 7 жыл бұрын

We need these videos in Spanish please . They are very interesting and useful for the education of our children. Thank you

@garygarrett7579 7 жыл бұрын

I laughed out loud at the grumpy face on the tree at 3:53... genius!

@ninasager5669 2 жыл бұрын

The way I learn more in these 4 minutes than in any day in school

@blackcat55925 7 жыл бұрын

can you explain why there is a tree during christmas?

@tusenbensen334 7 жыл бұрын

Rose Alam Something about Germany and a tree with apples stuck to it for the poor to eat on Christmas..I think. I might be very wrong though

@diegoruiz2186 7 жыл бұрын

Rose Alam The evergreen tree's color never changes and its leaves never fall off, and so a German tradition associated the trees with the everlasting life that comes with the birth of Jesus. 😇

@blackcat55925 7 жыл бұрын

Oh mk thanks. Im not christian or celebrate, I just really wanted to know lol.

@dipearbore9149 7 жыл бұрын

Germanic people already worshiped evergreen trees before they became Christians and has nothing to do with Jesus but with the celebration of the winter solstice which is around Christmas . Christians adopted a lot of pagan traditions in to Christianity to convert pagans more easily.

@jaecummings1381 7 жыл бұрын

Also, fir trees were brought inside during the Roman festival of Saturnalia, although they were often hung upside down from the ceiling. However, it is said that the first true Christmas tree was brought into a house in 16th century Germany. Before this, there we many other traditions similar to that of a Christmas tree, but this was regarded as the first Christmas tree.

@khoaprod 7 жыл бұрын

I was literally waiting for an upload! Yay!!!!!

@khoaprod 7 жыл бұрын

What am I doing with my life? Waiting for a said video to upload? It could've uploaded a few days later! Dammit I'm a piece of crap

@irishbear6536 7 жыл бұрын

Don't worry, I also wait for uploads/vids sometimes

@safir2241 5 жыл бұрын

I’ve never (or my family) been remotely interested in Christmas. My first encounter with Mistletoe was in a DnD game where one elf in my group grew some of it & it fed us all.

@charbychu6113 5 жыл бұрын

That was the most interesting story about a plant I’ve ever heard. Well done!

@CDTheNinja 7 жыл бұрын

This video but everytime they say mistletoe or fertility it gets faster.

@oldcowbb 7 жыл бұрын

stop this stupid meme

@RichardHannay 7 жыл бұрын

Did you know mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it.

@RoseArcanum 7 жыл бұрын

Love hurts

@devisankhla4788 6 жыл бұрын

Yes

@astronautique 7 жыл бұрын

Under the Mistletoe, I don't get a kiss, only pepper spray.

@solomonizmaylov7969 7 жыл бұрын

every channel is making a Christmas special

@DanielDaAbadSukarno 2 жыл бұрын

Me in tropic island "what is mistletoe? "

@cantbetamed2210 3 жыл бұрын

TedEd: Why do we kiss under the mistletoe? Me: Dunno about you, it sounds like a silly tradition, why indeed?

@awe483 6 жыл бұрын

3:23 that sound was sooo satisfying 🤤

@Evultz 7 жыл бұрын

Hey TED-Ed, love your videos but what was your source for this video? I didn't do a fully extensive check but the three sources I checked of the Norse tale of Baldur's death told that it was bargained with the god of Hel that if they could get every living being to cry for Bakdur's death she would release him back into the land of the living. Everyone cried save for one; depending on the source this was either Loki in disguise or a Willow tree enchanted by Loki to be unable to cry - it is said that after the enchantment wore off the tree wept for eternity in grief. Thus Baldur wasn't revived until after ragnorok. This contrasts to your version of the story?

@jacquelynskelton5266 7 жыл бұрын

Loved the animation!

@jcclayton6731 7 жыл бұрын

🎋"The more you know"🎋

@patrickroelant5171 7 жыл бұрын

i love those animations for magical qualities and fertility.

@napoleonibonaparte7198 7 жыл бұрын

Patrick Roelant Ikr

@inhumanash1326 7 жыл бұрын

I dunno about you guys, but mistletoe sends ME running.

@KeaLeonna 7 жыл бұрын

I haven't seen anyone kiss under mistletoe in forever, or ever, only in movies. I'm planning to place mistletoe over all the classroom doors so everyone has to kiss each other XD (of course that wouldn't work, besides, we're on break FINALLY)

@suzesscene 7 жыл бұрын

I always find that intro song so zen

@benjaminwilde152 7 жыл бұрын

1:53 Freud knows what's happening there.

@yanuree6037 7 жыл бұрын

Merry Christmas everyone!

@389jn Жыл бұрын

The popping sound is 😂😂😂😂😂

@narumi89 7 жыл бұрын

I've actually never seen a mistletoe in real life, I genuinely don't know what they look like tbh

@meghanmayko9470 7 жыл бұрын

I always wondered why people kiss under venomous foilage

@masterkuukai6731 7 жыл бұрын

2:13 "Thanks to....THE POWERPUFF GIRLS!"

@freediugh416 7 жыл бұрын

yay a 5 min video for a 10 second fact....thx ted....thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaankssssssssssssss

@ethanshepherd342 3 жыл бұрын

Have yourself a Merry Christmas, TED-Ed! And a Happy New Year!

@jibbs_aim 7 жыл бұрын

Game: Drink every time he says fertility

@tobotrobot185 7 жыл бұрын

The Outhouse Studios LOL

@paulleal6419 7 жыл бұрын

The Outhouse Studios nearly died 😥

@jibbs_aim 7 жыл бұрын

Paul Leal haha

@vicky6985 7 жыл бұрын

Not working for me. I drank the whole bottle of water...

@juliacentino659 3 жыл бұрын

Merry Christmas!

@otomackena7610 7 жыл бұрын

oh that mistletoe i thought of the other one ny bad

@otomackena7610 7 жыл бұрын

P̷s̷ʏ̷ᴄ̷ʜ̷ᴏ̷ᴛ̷ɪ̷ᴄ̷ R̷ᴀ̷ɪ̷ɴ̷ʙ̷ᴏ̷ᴡ̷ᴢ̷ cameltoe lol

@otomackena7610 7 жыл бұрын

P̷s̷ʏ̷ᴄ̷ʜ̷ᴏ̷ᴛ̷ɪ̷ᴄ̷ R̷ᴀ̷ɪ̷ɴ̷ʙ̷ᴏ̷ᴡ̷ᴢ̷ i know both are not even remotely close but my brain just works in mysterious ways.lmao

@CadetGriffin 7 жыл бұрын

What's so funny about cloven hooves?

@LughSummerson 7 жыл бұрын

Kissing beneath the cameltoe is also a gesture of affection in some cultures.

@otomackena7610 7 жыл бұрын

Lugh Summerson lmao in every culture.will it bring goodluck?😂😂

@ELYESSS 7 жыл бұрын

I need a hat made of mitletoe

@Cannibal713 7 жыл бұрын

ILYES Actually during Saturnalia (the Roman holiday that would become Christmas) people would wear wreaths made of mistletoe and holly to the orgies.

@argyllechica9370 7 жыл бұрын

I watched this video because I want to know the EXACT reason why people have to kiss under the mistletoe. Is it because the English think it's the best way to "spread" love and make it a Christmas tradition? Even if you accidentally bump into a unnoticed opposite-gender visitor in your house at Christmas? And in the exact time they're under a mistletoe? And they have to kiss each other because of this tradition? Because the girl will have bad luck if she's not accepting the kiss? That even if it could be a sick prank, they'll still have to do it because of the tradition? It may be an adorable time for loving couples, boyfriends\girlfriends, but it is not for strangers. I completely do not understand this.

@ispeakforthetrees69 3 жыл бұрын

People: kissing under mistletoe Me: *Harry and Cho kissing itensifies*

@yusrafatima4296 2 жыл бұрын

Lol same 😂

@coll6171 3 жыл бұрын

Told my crush to kiss me under the mistletoe... He said he doesn't have a foot fetish and left.

@meii7914 3 жыл бұрын

....

@constellious 6 жыл бұрын

*Put a cow under the missletoe* *A random guy walked and saw the cow under the missletoe* That guy: Fuuuuuuuuuuuuu-

@gangabhavani8083 5 жыл бұрын

Justin bieber and selena Gomez finds mistletoe everywhere they go

@rushingwater2.0 5 жыл бұрын

This is now my favorite plant! It’s a parasite that steals resources. That describes me XD

@rfadini 6 жыл бұрын

Very cool, Carlos! Congrats!

@lotusgal313 3 жыл бұрын

Mistletoe is amazingly underrated

@Asmi-TheReader 9 ай бұрын

Nice video... but, Could you please upload it again with subtitles???... so, that I can understand whole story very clearly... bcoz of language problem I could not understand all the words...

@giz-bar 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Ted-Ed for your videos. Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

@pbwidia 7 жыл бұрын

I'm supposed to be growing leaves but this one plant keeps kicking my ass

@stephaniebrooks8000 7 жыл бұрын

email for stephanie

@pbwidia 7 жыл бұрын

VortexTG Yeah, ThePlant27

@chocolatier5651 7 жыл бұрын

You'll probably laugh and say it's not going to happen..... but I want a unicorn for Christmas, but more importantly, a kiss under the mistletoe. :(

@francocamacho12 7 жыл бұрын

I'm not from the US, so I had no idea about it until I came here

@emir2591 7 жыл бұрын

LMAOOOO I HAD TO DO A PRESENTSTION THIS LITERALLY YESTERDAY

@dawnfate 5 жыл бұрын

I believe you are wrong on at least one account. Neither the Eddas, nor Gesta Danorum mentions a happy reunion for Balder and Frigg(a). Hel was willing to release Balder from Hellheim on the condition that everyone wept for him. One giantess refused. So he will stay in Hellheim until Ragnarok. If there is a different version I’d love to know the source.

@ching.marylouarquiza9838 6 жыл бұрын

AHHHCKK! I knew about the Lord Baldr story and I was about to get upset if they didn't mentioned it! Thanks to Magnus Chase!

@ferociousmaliciousghost 4 жыл бұрын

Rest in peace Baldr. We'll see you after Ragnarok.

@DailyFoodie 7 жыл бұрын

I always wondered about this

@miriamshiferaw7316 3 жыл бұрын

my bigest qustion has been answerd

@drawinglife2008 7 жыл бұрын

lol I knew all of this when I read the book in Year 3. I read all the Harry Potter series in year 1, Percy Jackson year 2, and blah blah blah. I got so many book awards XD

@GuggleBum 7 жыл бұрын

Please do this video: How do fire ants float on water?

@hannahwalters3602 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting. Have a wonderful day and God bless

@TheSodaWave 3 жыл бұрын

The best part is the bird

@amberharris4002 7 жыл бұрын

ok this is really cool and all but wtf is that art style the characters look like they're in... pain...

@chairliftt 7 жыл бұрын

isn't it obvious? we are all constantly in pain.

@chairliftt 7 жыл бұрын

lol kill me

@akt3037 3 жыл бұрын

@@chairliftt Idk why but I'm proud of you my dude

@Alyss93 7 жыл бұрын

This sounds almost exactly like a segment on the CBC earlier today...

@renyigg5951 3 жыл бұрын

I just saw a Ted ed ad

@jeroakiobualao1868 3 жыл бұрын

This was our prank on highschool Christmas day we put everywhere

@seenaradhakrishnan4171 4 жыл бұрын

I've read about it in the Harry Potter books

@dannahplays1987 3 жыл бұрын

I mean I did heard from someone else that if you dont kiss under the mistletoe you will have bad luck but I still dont understand this video tbh...

@mochymii 7 жыл бұрын

lmao my entire family don't even know what mistletoe is

@DeconvertedMan 7 жыл бұрын

deadly if you eat it...

@juvialockser5055 7 жыл бұрын

This is why i never get near any mistletoes .____.

@kooxii 7 жыл бұрын

0:32 LMAOO 😭😭💀

@Neontronique 7 жыл бұрын

Great video

@thirdyimam8915 4 жыл бұрын

I searched for what is a mistletoe but all I see is "Why do we kiss under a mistletoe?"

@theathekid2026 7 жыл бұрын

M - is for the mistletoe were everyone is kissed.

@jencookie2920 8 ай бұрын

merry christmas

@leesimone2 6 жыл бұрын

Awwww....hanging one next year! 😊

@jamiekw8 3 жыл бұрын

How interesting 🤔

@EmperorOfCookies 7 жыл бұрын

the animals are soo cute

@angelk8313 7 жыл бұрын

I knew the Scandinavian legend from Teen Wolf!

@copyrock 7 жыл бұрын

Hod pierces Baldur's heart with the mistletoe, not Loki. Loki just tricks him into doing it some traditions.

@vizrajr3668 6 жыл бұрын

I put a mistletoe over me and my Crush... She... WE'RE DATING NOW!!!

@sophiaricasata3125 3 жыл бұрын

Wooahhh good my comrade

@teacoffee7809 6 жыл бұрын

2 year ago this was made...wow

@pigeon2531 6 жыл бұрын

-checks date- 1st of December? Merry Christmas countdown

@nicholefieldbutch321 2 жыл бұрын

havent seen one in a while and cant remember when.....HONESTLY lol

@DaAwesomeSubscriber 7 жыл бұрын

Wait, from what I learned growing up, Balder wasn't resurrected. They tried, but they didn't succeed. His story is a tragic one, that's what makes is so famous.