Washington DC breaks Guinness World Record in this adorable Chrmas tradition

The U.S. capital has added a new Guinness World Record title under its belt after 1,435 couples simultaneously kissed under a giant mletoe sculpture during the National Kiss Under the National Mletoe event on December 13, surpassing the previous mark of 480 couples. Garren Price, CEO and President of the Downtown DC BID, center, with Michael Empric, informs the crowd that they broke the record on December 13, 2025. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno(REUTERS) The record attempt drew a festive crowd as hearts and lips met beneath the holiday greenery in downtown Washington D.C. amid seasonal celebrations. The record-breaking moment occurred under a 600-pound, 10-foot-wide mletoe installation suspended high above Anthem Row NW, a public art piece that now stands as a seasonal landmark. Read more: Optical illusion: You have sharp eyes if you can spot the cat in 10 seconds Mass mletoe kiss eventThe National Kiss Under the National Mletoe event drew thousands to downtown Washington. Participants secured their place in the record books positioning themselves beneath the mletoe and locking lips for the required duration. The Washington Post reported that a Guinness World Records official adjudicator, Michael Empric, oversaw the event and enforced the rules. He made sure that each couple kissed for the required five seconds under real mletoe. He then confirmed that 1,435 couples had successfully broken the record. The mletoe artwork is installed the DowntownDC Business Improvement Drict (BID) and is decorated with ribbons and a jingle bell. The artwork is designed a D.C.-based art, My Ly, according to the Washington Post. It will stay on display throughout the season, inviting more visitors until January 2026. Mayor Muriel Bowser and BID officials praised the record as a symbol of community spirit and winter celebration in the nation’s capital. Gerren Price, CEO of the DowntownDC BID, told the crowd, according to The Washington Post, “Y’all, this has made this D.C. boy’s dream come true. We can show the entire world that D.C. is love.” Read more: Woman shares adorable moment of Emirates flight attendant comforting her toddler The record was not a guaranteeEmpiric was very thorough with his work, as reported the Washington Post. The record was not a guarantee, even when it became clear that over 480 couples had attended. In the middle of the crowd, stewards kept an eye on whether couples were kissing for the requisite five seconds. Some could be eliminated from the total if they split apart too soon. Empiric told the crowd, as reported the Post, “If too many of you are deducted, the entire attempt is unsuccessful.” But the good news reached the crowd, moments later, and everyone was overjoyed the success of love.