YouTube prankster spreads holiday cheer with his 'Mistletoe Kissing Contraption'

Feeling lonely this holiday season?

You could also try Blake Grigsby’s strategy: Wear a “Mistletoe Kissing Contraption.”

While not the most subtle way to ask for physical affection, it appeared to work for the YouTube prankster.

“I’ve been sitting on this idea for three years, and it was just time to make it happen,” Grigsby, a DePaul University junior, told DNAinfo. “My friend, A.C. Rupe, who creates props for films, made it look exactly the way I thought it up.”

“Of course, I didn’t think the thing would work, or that anyone would kiss me,” he added. “I never expect anyone to kiss me.”

Grigsby collected dozens of kisses and hugs — from people of all walks of life — as he wandered around Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza in Chicago.

“Merry Christmas to me!”

Watch additional footage of the contraption in action below.

“My favourite part is meeting people after the kiss and the conversations we have,” Grigsby told DNAinfo. “Some people have interesting stories, and others take pictures and say the mistletoe reminds them of someone they miss.”

Grigsby and his team are currently working on a how-to video with instructions for building your own Mistletoe Kissing Contraption.

If you think Grigsby looks familiar, it’s likely because you’ve seen him yell out drive-by compliments.