Friday, December 10, 2010

History of Kissing under Mistletoe


I love learning about lore and mythology.  Since its the Christmas season I thought I would share a story I found that is from Norse Mythology about the custom of kissing under the mistletoe.

The Norse god Balder was the best loved of all the gods. His mother was Frigga, goddess of love and beauty. She loved her son so much that she wanted to make sure no harm would come to him. So 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 sly, evil spirit, to find the loophole. The loophole was mistletoe. He made an arrow 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 he 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 reputation of the offending plant--making it a symbol of love and promising to bestow a kiss upon anyone who passes under it.

*story was originally posted on http://www.candlegrove.com/mistletoe.html*


So I'm breaking out my mistletoe and I am puckered up...

7 comments:

  1. Interesting tale Brandi. Stay puckered.

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  2. Well damn...Now I'm just looking silly all puckered and no one to kiss. Though I dont think you need to be around any woman puckering right now when your in the dog house with Miss Houston!

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  3. Oh, what the hell... there ain't a week goes by that I ain't in the doghouse for something.

    *kisses those puckered lips*

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  4. Whew...*fans herself vigorously*...No wonder Miss Houston is stuck on you :)

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  5. Well, I guess they don't call me Hotlips Valance for nothing. Course I'll be Black-eyed Valance if Miss Houston finds out, but I won't tell her if you won't.

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  6. Ohhh I see Mr V is stirring up trouble over here!!!

    This lips don't talk... That is when someone else has them occupied... LMBO!!!!

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  7. Oh Missy I'm sure we could find someone to occupy them for you!!

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