MORRISONS in Aberystwyth is handing out sprigs of free mistletoe to its shoppers in a bid to get the town kissing this festive season.

The supermarket has found kissing under the mistletoe could become extinct, as new research reveals younger generations are shunning the tradition.

An amazing 71 per cent of UK adults under 35 have never experienced the custom of a kiss under the mistletoe, compared to 38 per cent of over 55s.

The retailer is hoping to turn around the trend by giving away mistletoe in all of its stores to sprinkle a little Christmas magic.

Jennifer Clarke, store general manager at Morrisons Aberystwyth, said: “Kissing under the mistletoe is possibly the oldest Christmas tradition we have in Britain - it dates back over 2,000 years. It would be a shame to see it become a thing of past so we will be giving mistletoe to customers who look in need of a magical Christmas kiss.”

Showing one of the biggest declines of all British Christmas traditions, last year only one in seven (14 per cent) UK adults kissed someone under the mistletoe, compared with 74 per cent who sent Christmas cards and 61 per cent who ate a mince pie.

Other traditions falling out of favour amongst Brits last year were carol singing – only 9 per cent enjoyed a traditional Christmas croon in 2014 – and Christmas pudding – only 13 per cent of the nation served up the traditional dish, whilst fewer than one in ten (8%) actually made one.

UK mistletoe expert Jonathan Briggs said: “This year we’re expecting sales of mistletoe to increase by at least 50 per cent, due to the crop being so attractive. Each winter’s mistletoe crop is judged by the number and size of berries rather than the length of the stem, as these are essential to the kissing tradition. 2015’s crop is excellent on all counts, with every stem loaded with the familiar large white berries, bestowing it with extra kissing quality. Years like this are sometimes described by the trade as ‘mistletoe bling’ years.”