Kiss Me Under the Mistletoe

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I found myself liking Louise and I was intrigued by the story of Laura Hastings whom Louise has bought the house from following her death. In Laura's diaries Louise finds comfort likening her life to that of the hollywood star but I always found she was more like Dominic, the love Laura wrote about longingly.

Known as “the healing plant,”the ancient Celts also used mistletoe and was a big part of their winter solstice celebrations. The plant contains progesterone, the female sex hormone, and perhaps this is another why it became associated withkissing. Balls ofMistletoe Forbes calls it one of the "big four" plants you'll see at a mid-winter celebration, along with ivy, holly and evergreen trees (like Christmas trees and wreaths).

If you need me, I’ll just be hanging around the mistletoe, hoping to be kissed,” Lena jokes as she walks away, earning a laugh from her friend. The event dragged on for Merlin. He stared wistfully at the platters of herb-crusted capon, roast goose, fennel and rosemary boar, preserved fruits, and spiced crab apples. He poured wassail and mulled cider into goblets and filched roasted nuts from the plates of inattentive nobles, all while trying to ignore the princesses fawning over Arthur. Merlin stifled a squawk of outrage. The real reason they were late had nothing to do with him and everything to do with Arthur wanting a late afternoon lie-in.

Mistletoe’s associations with fertility and vitality continued through the Middle Ages, and by the 18th century it had become widely incorporated into Christmas celebrations. Just how it made the jump from sacred herb to holiday decoration remains up for debate, but the kissing tradition appears to have first caught on among servants in England before spreading to the middle classes. And then I heard what you said after and then I came over here because I didn’t want you to have to kiss anyone else under the mistletoe because I really wanted to kiss you. Or, you can kiss anyone you want under the mistletoe, that’s your choice but I didn’t like the idea of you kissing anyone else.” Kara frowns, a stupidly adorable crinkle in her forehead. Although commonly found in Europe, the myriad of mistletoe species spread geographically and can now be found in Central Valley, California. If you happen to forage through the trees, you may find green balls up to 2 feet wide forming on the branches -- and that's the mistletoe! I also want you to know, that I maybe heard a little bit of your conversation with Sam. By accident! I didn’t mean to but I did and Rao, it made me so happy, because I honestly didn’t know that you like me too, which seems obvious now, when I think about it. Arthur usually treated his father's matchmaking efforts with indifference, if not outright disdain, which was why Merlin was so surprised when Arthur selected his fancy, silver-threaded blue tunic and dark leather trousers for his evening attire.And it can be found in all types of movies, ranging from Christmas staples like "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to more non-denominational films like the Harry Potter series, and– wait for it– "American Psycho." After Baldur had dreams of being killed, Baldur's mother Frigg made everything in the world promise not to harm him - well, almost everything. She didn't extract a promise from mistletoe, though, because it seemed too weak and insignificant. If Merlin didn't know any better, he'd think Arthur was wrong-footed by his father's comment. "Father, that's not necessary. I take great pride in training him to work harder."

How this developed into the tradition we have today is unclear, however history.com notes that it is believed to have “first caught on among servants in England before spreading to the middle classes”. Merlin's mouth went dry. He debated stealing a gulp from Arthur's wine goblet. Arthur couldn't be saying what Merlin thought he was. Surely he hadn't meant... Merlin had dreamt of this more than he’d like to admit. He felt drunk off the taste and feel of Arthur. Even his magic seemed to spiral out of control, fizzing through his blood and leaving him lightheaded with lust. The mistletoe then invades the host, “stealing" nutrients and water from it. In fact, the scientific name for American mistletoe (Phoradendron) is Greek for “thief of the tree."It's life in the midst of what seems to be death,"said Bruce Forbes, a holiday expert and professor emeritus of religious studies at Morningside University in Iowa. Booming laughter, drunken giggles, and sounds of merriment soon filled the hall. The Yule feast was a resounding success, at least for the nobles.

By the 1700s, traditional “kissing balls” made of boxwood, holly, and mistletoe were hung in windows and doorways during the holiday season. A young lady caught under the mistletoe could not refuse to give a kiss. This was supposed to increase her chances of marriage since a girl who wasn’t kissed could still be single next Christmas. According to ancient custom, one berry is removed after each kiss until they are allgone. Mistletoe Meaning, Legend, andFolklore Once ensconced in Arthur’s chambers, Merlin busied himself with starting a fire in the hearth while Arthur sank into a plush chair, humming a carol under his breath. "She was pretty, wasn't she, Merlin?"The plant has also been tied to the Romans, who used it as a representation ofpeace, love and understanding and would hang it over doorways, historian Jane Vyer previously told the BBC. Lena’s used to Kara rambling like this, but even she’s having trouble following it this time, mostly because what Kara’s saying can’t be true. But Frigg neglected to consult with the unassuming mistletoe, so the scheming god Loki made an arrow from the plant and saw that it was used to kill the otherwise invincible Baldur. According to one sunnier version of the myth, the gods were able to resurrect Baldur from the dead. Delighted, Frigg then declared mistletoe a symbol of love and vowed to plant a kiss on all those who passed beneath it.