Hang the Mistletoe and pucker up!
Mistletoe is also known as the golden bough and once held sacred by Celtic Druids and Norseman. The potent plant was once called Allheal and used in folk medicine and Native Americans used it for toothache, measles and dog bites. In Scandinavian antiquity it a peace plant. If enemies met by chance beneath it in a forest, they agreed on a truce until the next day.
5 days after the New Moon following winter solstice, Mistletoe was used by the Druid priesthood in a special ceremony. Mistletoe would be cut from a holy oak tree with a golden sickle and the branches caught before they hitting the ground. The branches were divided into many sprigs and given to people to hang over their doorways for protection a against thunder, lightning and other evils. Over the years, the magic of this plant has taken many forms such as placing a sprig in a baby's cradle to protect the infant from faeries. Or giving a sprig to the first cow calving after New Year to protect the herd.
But how did it come to mean a kiss?
Although many sources say that kissing under the mistletoe is an English custom, there's another explanation for its origin. In Norse mythology there is a story of a loving, if overprotective, mother.
Frigga was mother to the Norse god Balder, the best loved of all the gods. Frigga was the goddess of love and beauty and she loved her son. To ensure no harm would come to him, she went through the world securing promises from everything that sprang from the four elements--fire, water, air, and earth--that they would not harm her beloved Balder.
Leave it to Loki, a mischievous spirit, to find the loophole. Mistletoe and an arrow made from its wood. To make the prank even nastier, he took the arrow to Hoder, Balder's brother, who was blind. Guiding Holder's hand, Loki directed the arrow at Balder's heart, and Balder fell dead.
Frigga's tears became the mistletoe's white berries. In the version of the story with a happy ending, Balder is restored to life, and Frigga is so grateful that she reverses the murderous reputation of Mistletoe--making it a symbol of love and promising to bestow a kiss upon anyone who passes under it.
Information gleaned from numerous online searches for mistletoe lore.
Those who leave a comment today will be entered to receive a digital download. I’ll choose a winner for every 10 comments posted. 30 comments = 3 winners so spread the word about the Christmas Ride blog event. (see end of this blog post for choices of ebooks)
Your next stop on this Christmas Ride is Meagan Hatfield http://www.meaganhatfield.blogspot.com/
And if you’ve missed stops or have gotten lost along the way, here is where the ride has been spreading Christmas cheer. Collect the songs to enter the grand prize drawing. One lucky person will win a $75 Wild Rose Press gift certificate! All you need to do to enter is attend each day's blog post, identify the carol, and make a complete carol list to submit after the final blog post of Christmas Eve. Don't forget to check the list twice! Send it to Christmasrideblog@live.com by midnight, CST Dec. 31st 2008!
Here is the hint (lyrics) to my song choice for the grand prize. Good Luck in the contest.
Oh, you'll be my spring ahead, my fall behind
The shimmy on my hips oh when I, bump and grind
You'll be my Santa Boy, all dressed in red
And ride that little reindeer all through my head
Oh, ooh, here we go, oh yeah
This year I'm gonna take you home
This year I don't wanna be alone
Nov 29 PL Parker - http://plparker.blogspot.com/
Nov 30 Lynn Reynolds - http://lynnreynolds.blogspot.com/
Dec 1 WRP - http://thewildrosepress.blogspot.com/
Dec 2 Michele Hart - http://michelehart.blogspot.com/
Dec 3 2 today! - Teri Wilson - http://www.freewebs.com/teriwilson/terisblog.htm
Elaine Cantrell - http://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com/
Dec 4 Roni Adams - http://thewildrosepress.blogspot.com/
Dec 5 Stacy Dawn - http://www.stacydawn.blogspot.com/
Dec 6 Susanne Saville - http://myblog.susannesaville.com/
Dec 7 Beth Caudill http://bethcaudill.blogspot.com/
Today’s winners can choose from
Delicious Darkness,
Hot Blooded,
The Cougar Meets Her Master,
Eternal Rapture, or
All Lycan’s Eve
For non-erotic titles, winner could choose any title from Lisa Dawn MacDonald
Marion’s Train,
Secret Surrender,
Wild Fires,
Crashed
Please list your email address in your post or check back Tuesday morning for the winners.
30 comments:
I love mythology! There are so many different versions that history has to explain everything. I don't know how they come up with it, but most of the time it is very interesting and makes perfect sense. My son goes out and shoots down mistletoe from our trees every year!!
I'd never really given a thought to where Mistletoe came from. but I found it all very interesting.
Also to those who comment, I'll be putting some excerpts here in the comment section throughout the day. Some will be erotic and contain graphic nature. :) They will be labeled. If you don't enjoy erotic writing writing you might want to skim past those comments.
Thanks for the mistletoe trivia. Your X'mas song is by Christina Aguilera entitled "This Year". You chose a hot one!
Enjoyed your blog!
That was fun to learn about mistletoe...I had not really thought of it having that type of history. =)
I will def be back to check out your excerpts...need a little steam in the middle of my day!
~Drea
slyiare@yahoo.com
I LOVE mythology, especialy Norse and Celtic/Druidic. I never heard the version about Balder being returned to life. COOL!
I never saw natrual growing mistletoe, it is pretty though.
Merry Christmas,
Mindy :)
I am a 2009 EPPIE finalist with this story! Available now at Ellora's Cave. www.EllorasCave.com
An Excerpt From: IMPULSIVE PLEASURES
Copyright © KYANN WATERS, 2008
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
Mark Bentley checked his watch again as the plane taxied down the runway. Next time, he’d charter a flight. Not that there would be an occasion such as this again. A man hoped he only married once. Mark didn’t plan to take the plunge—ever.
He grabbed his carryon and went to get the rental car. Fifteen minutes later, he was speeding twenty miles over the limit trying to make up time.
He glanced at the dashboard clock when he pulled into the parking lot of the church. He’d done fairly well not getting there too late considering he’d had to fly a thousand miles.
“Mark!” Wes waved from the bottom step of the church.
“Sorry. The flight was delayed.” It had been a few years since they’d seen each other. Wes looked great. Same college boy good looks, blond hair, clean-shaven, he looked like an accountant. Seemed appropriate considering in college he majored in business right along with Mark. The similarities ended there. Wes got a job and started his climb up the corporate ladder whereas Mark, always the risk taker, had launched his own architectural landscape business. “Ashley must be good for you.” Mark slapped him on the back in a friendly guy hug.
Wes laughed. “Very good for me.”
“So you’ve said.” He smiled. “No worries, brother. She’ll never know how much I’ve heard. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Come on. She’s in the church.”
Mark followed Wes. About twenty people milled about, some gathered near the minister. He glanced around wondering which young woman was the bride. Perhaps he’d entertain himself over the weekend with a bridesmaid. He hadn’t slept with a woman in seven months and his dick was restless. An out-of-town, hotter than hell affair was just the kind of distraction he needed. Something temporary. Wes was getting a bride. Mark just wanted to get laid.
“There she is, with her mother, Jamie.”
“That’s her mother?” Mark raised an eyebrow. Ashley’s mother was hot. However, married chicks didn’t turn him on. Too bad his cock didn’t agree.
Ashley and Jamie approached them. Wes put a hand around Ashley’s waist and made introductions. “This is my future bride and her mother, Jamie.”
Mark leaned in and gave Ashley a kiss on each cheek. “Wes is a lucky man.” He turned to the mother. And so was Ashley’s father. Mark took her hand, finding the skin soft under his fingertips. Instead of a handshake, he took a step closer and placed a kiss on her knuckles. “A pleasure.”
“I told you. Mark’s a charmer.” Wes chuckled.
“Charmed by gorgeous women. I can see where Ashley gets her beauty.” More than beauty, Jamie smelled like a woman. A subtle hint of perfume tickled his nose and her hair made him think of a chilly, fall evening. Smooth and shiny, it reflected the red and gold highlights of late afternoon sun coming through the stained-glass windows.
Their eyes locked when he stepped back. Fire blazed into his crotch. Moss-green edged with copper, her eyes held mystery. Her smile, however, hinted at mischief. He imagined those full pink lips, the color the same as a woman’s inner folds, wrapped around his cock. He nearly groaned aloud. Damn, but it had been too long since lust had punched him in the gut.
Great fun facts, Kyann. I would have definitely flunked that trivia quiz question.
Loved the excerpt for Impulsive Pleasures, too, on the wish list it goes.
Everything you wanted to know about mistletoe and more. WOW. Good to know. As for the carols. My taxed mind just can't think that hard. sigh.
I'd never heard the history before--thanks, KyAnn! And thanks for the yummy excerpts! That's a fun way to break up the day ;)
It was very interesting reading about mistletoe. I was reading the
other comments and your book seem like a good read.
loretta
Oh I love the all the info on mistletoe! I never knew half this stuff! Thank You so much for sharing it. The info gained from doing this blog run has been wonderful for me because I truly love learning about all the different Christmas lore!
And the Christmas Carol for the day is "This Year"!
This post is **GRAPHIC**
(Just the way we love it.)
However if you do not enjoy erotic romance, pass on this post. :) It is a rough and edgy werewolf story. The content in this book is extreme and at times is violent. (in a deliciously naughty way).
KyAnn
All Lycan's Eve
Copyright © KyAnn Waters, 2007
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
www.Ellorascave.com
All Lycan’s Eve
by KyAnn Waters
Fuck! Sweat trickled down Kean's spine. Fuck, fuck! Every muscle tightened painfully, including his cock swelling in his jeans. Saliva pooled in the back of his mouth. A feral growl rolled from his chest as his canines lengthened to sharp points. Sweet, heady pheromones drifted on the air. Kean refused to turn around. This was not happening. Fuck instinct.
He had to look. Fierce, driving hunger tore through his gut. The hairs on his arms thickened. Fighting down the need to shift, he took a deep breath. Big mistake. Her essence filled his nose, flaring his nostrils. Ethmoidal cells, deep in the back of his throat, committed her scent to memory.
The woman sauntered up to the bar. He could smell her sex, wet and ripe. Closing his eyes, he reached under the table, unable to stop himself from stroking his cock through the thick denim. Of all the places to find his mate… Hell no! His hand jerked. His mate was not a prostitute. However, he would claim her for his own pleasure tonight.
Taking his drink from the table, he crossed the room feeling the adrenaline of the hunt heat his blood. Colored overhead lighting reflected off her hair hanging past her shoulders in silky blonde waves. High heels led to trim calves and sexy, curved hips. She hitched that hip onto the bar stool and then slid fully onto the seat. Others smelled the strong scent of her pussy, wet with her juices. The bitch was in heat. Only she wasn't a bitch. She was human. Her musk drew the males, seeking a taste of the nectar between her legs. Rage boiled in his gut when she turned and smiled at the pup on her left.
Like all the women at the party, her maturity was evident in her confident posture. As if she felt his stare, she glanced in his direction. She was what he found most attractive in an older human woman. Most wolves preferred fucking mature women. Experienced with life and not looking for a permanent relationship, far less potential for complications. Not to mention, he needed a woman in her sexual prime. A werewolf's mating prowess exceeded human males at all levels. Aggressive, dominant, a wolf demanded his bitch submit.
Kean softened the stiffness of his lips and smiled when he moved toward the woman in heat. She spun on her chair, crossed her silk-covered legs, and boldly watched him approach. He liked confidence.
Something shifted in her scent. Beneath the subtle fragrance of her perfume, she began to sweat. He made her nervous. Her dangling foot began to jiggle. Waves of strong sexual desire radiated off her honeyed flesh making his heart race and his blood pump, droning out the heavy thump of the music.
Tonight the emotions coiling tight in his stomach confused him. He should only want to bury his cock in her silken sheath and rut under the moon in his human-wolf form. Instead, her intelligent eyes and full lips plucked at his heartstrings. His instinct was to care for her. Christ, these were feelings a wolf felt for his mate. Not a Halloween hooker!
Wonderful post, Kyann!
Thanks for an interesting story, I like mythology too!
And thanks for the excerpt, I'd love to read the more...
I love everything about mistletoe. Thank you for all the great history and stories. I have never heard the song so I will have to trust other posts on This Year.
Carlabuck@aol.com
The song is "This Year" and what a great idea to share wxcerpts n your blog. Thank You!!!
Very interesting historical info. Never knew those. The saying is true, "Your never to old to learn". Thanks and Happy Holidays
The song is this year. Happy Holidays!
lexeetoste@sbcglobal.net
I love the covers on the side of the blog. they look great. I never knew about the mistletoe lore, but it was really interesting and cool. thanks.
lexeetoste@sbcglobal.net
It's "This Year"
WOW!!! Who knew? This was a great post.
I was not familiar with that version of the mistletoe story. While this probably contributed to the use of mistletoe in kissing boughs I think our contemporary use probably dates more to our adoption of Victorian standards for much of American Christmas traditions.
Loved the excerpts.
Thanks for the mistletoe info and great excerpts. The song is This Year.
Happy Holidays!
Wow, very interesting!
This carol is This Year.
Happy Holidays!!
Wow! I didn't know all that about mistletoe!
Congratulations to Kimmyl and Drea.
In my post I gave a list of titles you can choose from as your prize.
email me at kyannwaters@hotmail.com
with your selection.
thank you to everyone for stopping by my blog.
Please check back on Wednesday for a chance to win the EC 2008 card deck. the contest is in celebration of my Dec 10 release of Hard Ride Home!
KyAnn
This Year which I have never heard before
This Year
Thanks for the mistletoe trivia it's always interesting to learn the why's and where-for's behind the facts. I always wanted to gather mistletoe but I guess you have to be further south than I am.
Love the excerpts and the mistletpe lore. I remember a bad joke I heard back in the late 60's...... "What did the astronaut catch on his moon mission?........ Missle-toe! "This Year" is the carol.
I loved the excerpts. Can't wait to read the stories. Thanks for the info on mistletoe.
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