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| Mistletoe & The French Kiss |
If you missed the opportunity to sneak a little smooch from your secret crush over Christmas, in France you’ll have a second chance as the French whip out the mistletoe not for Christmas, but for New Year's Eve!
The Druids started off the Year's tradition of kissing under the mistletoe, believing that mistletoe has mystical powers that ward off evil spirits. But unlike elsewhere in the United States and Northern Europe, ‘S’embrasser sous le gui’ (to kiss under the mistletoe) happens on New Year Eve’s, rather than at Christmas. It brings good luck and, if you’re in love & only kissing one person it predicts a wedding before the end of the following year.
In Provence, New Year’s Eve ~ known as la Saint-Sylvestre ~ is a warm, lingering affair that prioritizes gastronomy and "bonhomie." The evening centers on the Réveillon, a marathon feast featuring delicacies like oysters, foie gras, and chapon rôti (roasted capon). While many French traditions are national, Provence adds its own flair; The Thirteen Desserts of Christmas often remain on the table through New Year's Day, symbolizing good fortune for the coming months.
As midnight approaches, the atmosphere shifts from the dining room to the village square. In many towns, locals gather to dance the Farandole, a traditional chain dance, to the whistling of galoubets (pipes) and the beat of tambourines. At the stroke of twelve, the "French" custom of kissing under the mistletoe occurs. ~ not at Christmas, but specifically to ring in the New Year. In Provence's coastal towns like Antibes, the celebrations often culminate the next morning with the Bain du Nouvel An, where adventurous souls take a ceremonial plunge into the chilly Mediterranean.
So the French, in their stereotypical sensuality go for a lot of kissing! It’s not just kissing under the mistletoe either. In France, you’re not just aiming to kiss one person at midnight, you’re supposed to kiss everyone in the room! 💋💋💋 Some historians trace the tradition of kissing on New Year’s Eve back to ancient Rome. The Romans would throw a huge celebration called the Festival of Saturnalia, where we gather lots of kissing occurred. This tradition filtered down to Europe. Some argue that in the Renaissance period, people would throw masquerade balls to ring in the New Year. At the stroke of midnight, they’d remove the mask and kiss to purify each other from evil. Bisous Bisous. And in France, the kissing doesn't stop at midnight.... They're just getting started... Let's just say the French are very big on kissing! 💋💋💋 They're a very sensual people! Who else could have invented The French Kiss! 😘
