Mistletoe Madness

For a romance writer, Christmas follows close behind Valentine's Day as the best holiday of the year. Why? Because of mistletoe! Those green springs covered in white berries inspires kissing like nothing else.

The tradition of mistletoe originated from Scandinavian custom and Norse myth. In Scandinavia, if enemies met under it, they would lay down their arms and declare a truce until the next day. Along with that, the Norse myth centered around Baldur is what caused mistletoe to be known as the kissing plant. Here is the myth according to: http://landscaping.about.com/cs/winterlandscaping1/a/mistletoe_2.htm.

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 can remember being at a party in middle school where the mistletoe hung in the door frame. Being the romantic that I was, I created my own awesome party memory. I daydreamed about the cute guy pulling me aside, setting me under that special mistletoe ball, and kissing me senseless. Yeah, it didn't happen, but it was a great daydream!

That little green ball sprinkled with white berries inspires hints of romance, awkward moments of flirty men and blushing women, and the breathless meeting of lips. It is prime time fun for romance writers!

Since I haven't written a scene with mistletoe, I'm sharing a favorite kissing scene from one of my favorite TV shows, Bones. It is a behind the scenes look at mistletoe at it's best! Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite Christmas mistletoe memory or kissing scene you'd like to share? Have you written one?


Sherrinda