An auctioneer has claimed that sales of mistletoe have dropped due to concerns surrounding workplace harassment.

According to Christmas tradition, it is customary to kiss under mistletoe.

However, the hanging of the festive plant has become less popular in recent years, with some chalking its decline up to concerns surrounding office party kissing.

On Moncreiff, mistletoe auctioneer Nick Champion said the plant's sales have been in decline recently.

"I think it’s mainly because the younger generation are not so interested in traditional decoration at Christmas," he said.

Mistletoe growing from a tree, Alamy.

Mr Champion said some workplaces will avoid mistletoe at the office party as they are worried about the implications kissing in the workplace might have.

"It was a big thing at our Christmas parties to hang mistletoe up but now it isn’t," he said.

Mr Champion said he was recently at a mistletoe conference where they discussed the plant's fading popularity in office Christmas parties.

Covid

The COVID-19 pandemic also had an effect on mistletoe sales, the auctioneer claims.

"COVID obviously stopped people socialising and getting too close and that was one of the problems," he said.

Mr Champion said it would be a "shame" to lose the tradition of mistletoe.

While it may no longer be the norm to hang mistletoe at the office Christmas party, many other customers are still buying the plant.

Mr Champion said his auctions are still attended by florists, market traders and garden centre buyers.

He also said many people bulk buy mistletoe as a decoration for winter weddings.

Feature image: Hanging mistletoe, Alamy.