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Feel guilty donning your Druid robes and still grabbing a kiss under the mistletoe?

Well, smooch away, pagans, because it’s time to take a deeper look at the origins of our favorite Christmas traditions with some help from Care2‘s Katie Waldeck!

Caroling.

Though Christmas carols have been around for centuries, and going door to door has been around since Pagan Europe, going door to door singing Christmas carols is a tradition born out of Victorian England. Carolers would hope to get gifts — like figgy pudding! — in return for their good cheer.

Mistletoe.

Kissing under the mistletoe has its origins in Pre-Christian Europe. From the Druids to the ancient Greeks, Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, a symbol of male fertility and romance, in cultures across the continent. Though no one is quite sure how the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe arose, it’s likely that it has its roots in Scandinavia.

Full story at Care2.

Festive history.

Photo credit: Fotolia