Friday, December 16, 2011

Stuff Your Stockings Christmas Blog Hop 2011

Welcome to the Stuff Your Stocking Blog Hop.  You probably just hopped in from Romance Writers Behaving Badly.  I hope you had a Holiday beverage handy as you read those HOT posts from those naughty authors. Do you need a minute to catch your breath?








Remember to leave a comment for a chance to win a PDF download of my latest book Handcuffs & Silk.


Your next stop on the hop after here will be exciting as you dive into a writer's world with erotic author Louisa Bacio


"The mistletoe is hung up near a doorway or in the kitchen and young men have the privilege of kissing girls under it, plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked the privilege ceases."
*****************************************
The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is one of my favorites and I believe a lot of kissing under the mistletoe has been going on for ages.  In today's tradition the part about plucking the berries (which, incidentally, are poisonous), and then all kissing under the mistletoe ends when the berries run out!

As a little girl, my mother told me how a young lady standing under a ball of mistletoe, brightly trimmed with evergreens, ribbons, and ornaments, cannot refuse to be kissed. Such a kiss could mean deep romance or lasting friendship and goodwill. If the girl remained unkissed, she cannot expect not to marry the following year.
*******************************
I found references of "kissing under the mistletoe" in Celtic rituals and Norse mythology. In Gaul, the land of the Celts, for instance, the Druids considered it a sacred plant. It was believed to have medicinal qualities and mysterious supernatural powers.  (Hmm... I wonder what kind of "power" I would have if I wear a piece of mistletoe on my coat.  After all... I am Scandinavian.)

The Norse myth of Baldur. Baldur's death and resurrection is one of the most fascinating Norse myths and stands at the beginning of the history of mistletoe as a "kissing" plant.
Baldur's mother was the Norse goddess, Frigga. When Baldur was born, Frigga made each and every plant, animal and inanimate object promise not to harm Baldur. But Frigga overlooked the mistletoe plant -- and the mischievous god of the Norse myths, Loki, took advantage of this oversight.
Ever the prankster, Loki tricked one of the other gods into killing Baldur with a spear fashioned from mistletoe. The demise of Baldur, a vegetation deity in the Norse myths, brought winter into the world, although the gods did eventually restore Baldur to life. After which Frigga pronounced the mistletoe sacred, ordering that from now on it should bring love rather than death into the world.
Happily complying with Frigga's wishes, any two people passing under the plant from now on would celebrate Baldur's resurrection by kissing under the mistletoe.
**************************************

I have my mistletoe hanging.  Do you?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a PDF of Handcuffs and Silk
Handcuffs and Silk
Decadent Publishing
A 1 Night Stand Story

Stephanie "Stiff" Johnson, is a tough Las Vegas cop who many men find too intimidating to date. Steph begins to wonder if something is wrong with her so she turns to Madame Eve to find a man who could be the yin to her yang, even if it's just for one night.

Hunter Morgan left behind years of living as a sub to a female Domme in New York. Upon return to his hometown, he questions whether he wants to continue with the "lifestyle" or find something different. Turning to 1 Night Stand, he hopes to sample his options.

A simple one-night stand opens a whole new sensuous world to both.

Genre: Contemporary romance, erotic romance, BDSM




Your next stop on the hop after here will be exciting as you dive into a writer's world with erotic author Louisa Bacio.






12 comments:

Chelle Cordero said...

Hi Mary, Glad to stop by and say HI.
~Chelle
ChelleCordero@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Love a chance to win.

kbmckee at mail dot com

Drea Becraft said...

Thanks for participating in the hop!

~*Drea*~

Megs said...

Hopping right along! Happy Holidays!

VampedChik said...

Love the cover! Would love to read it. Going on my wishlist! :) Thanks,
-Amber
goodblinknpark@yahoo.com

Tamsyn said...

I enjoyed the post, especially since I am totally ignorant of the mistletoe story. Interesting. Enjoying the hop. Happy holidays!

tamsyn5(at)yahoo(dot)com

Lisa said...

Would love to read this book. Thanks for being part of the blog hop.

Lisa
Wolphcall(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Judith said...

I am fascinated by old myths and legends, thank you.
judithhulleyathotmaildotcom

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas Mary!! And of course I have mistletoe..in every doorway....might as well stack the deck<3


stacey siferd

bakinstuff@yahoo.com

Eva's Flowers said...

Thanks for being part of the Hop, finding lots of new authors to add to my TBR list! Happy Holidays to you and yours :)

Eva
evitap67(at)gmail(dot)com

Shadow said...

Hi! Thanks for the great blog hop! Having a blast! Thank you for the giveaway! Happy holidays!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

mcv said...

Merry Christmas and thanks for the great contest!
mcv111@hotmail.com