Political commentator Alex Armstrong blasted "woke" attitudes for killing off the Christmas tradition of mistletoe kissing.
Nick "Mr Mistletoe" Champion, who has been staging Britain's only annual mistletoe auctions for 47 years, claims the tradition is dying due to modern attitudes.
Speaking on GB News, Armstrong lamented the "loss of romance" from Christmas celebrations, particularly at workplace parties. He said: "Supposedly Mr Champion, a man who sells mistletoe, has said that he thinks that the woke generation needs consent before they kiss under the mistletoe so therefore they're not buying it in droves.
He added: "Look, the romance has gone from Christmas, right? Particularly Christmas parties.
"Someone told me that they had a 'winter party' recently. It's so dreary, isn't it? We need to loosen up a little bit on these things and young people.
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"I've got four younger brothers. They constantly tell me that there is an air of being concerned about being dragged into HR."
Alex Armstrong was surprised when someone told him about a "winter party"
GB News
Champion had warned that "wokery" meant workers no longer kissed under the mistletoe for fear "they would be accused of abuse".
He told the Daily Mail: "Young people aren't interested in kissing under the mistletoe any more and the older generation who used to cut it down and bundle it up are dying off and not being replaced."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
The decline in mistletoe sales is starkly evident at Britain's only annual auctions in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire.
This year, only around 500 lots of mistletoe are expected to so, compared to 2,000 lots in previous decades. The auctions, which have been a tradition since 1862 are taking place on November 26 and December 3.
Young people "need consent" before they take part in the festive tradition
Getty
Despite the reduced demand, Champion notes that this year's crop quality should be exceptional.
"Mistletoe needs a frost around now to ripen the berries and turn them from green to white. The recent cold spell means that it should be a great crop," he said.
The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is thought to have begun in the 18th century
Getty
A 2015 survey by Morrisons revealed that 71 per cent of under-35s have never kissed anyone under the mistletoe.
The tradition, which took off in the Victorian era, has seen a dramatic decline in recent decades.
Mistletoe sales peaked in the early 1990s, when four auctions were regularly held at Tenbury Wells.
Holly has now overtaken mistletoe in popularity, fetching around £5 per kilo compared to £3 for mistletoe.
