Mistletoe

                                           

                      Associate with love ,we generally think of it as a 

                               Victorian Christmas tradition.                                                        

     But the plant has a long history of symbolic importance. First as a sacred plant of fertility and protection for Celtic Druids. Later, it became a peace symbol in Norse mythology. The use of  it medicinally is effected depending on the species of mistletoe and the part of the plant used. As a poison, the side effects can be significant, nausea, vomiting, chills, fever, itchy skin, headache, and fatigue. 

                                         Mistletoe on an apple tree. 

   However, the seemingly innocent plant can also damage others. While healthy trees can tolerate a light infection, heavy infestations can lead to stunted growth, dieback, and eventual death. So our love plant can also be deadly.

   Mistletoe vs Holly: Because the plant was associated with pagan practices, early Christian churches banned its use. Instead of mistletoe, the church encouraged their followers to use holly. Which is supposedly how holly became associated with Christmas,

  Kissing under mistletoe gained popularity in the 1700's. But going back even farther, one popular myth involves the Norse goddess Frigg, who is said to have declared that anyone who passed beneath the mistletoe deserved a kiss. I leaned toward the older beliefs about mistletoe's connection to love and fertility when I used the trope in my Medieval story, Promise Me Christmas. A great Christmas Eve read and a story to warm your heart no mater the season.

 From Promise Me Christmas: "When they passed the lone apple tree near the sally port, Guy smiled, and reached up and snagged a handful of greenery growing in the branches." 

        Available here 
         Book Trailer Promise Me Christmas

                      

National Excellence In Story Telling

  Colorado Authors' League Finalist 

My Stories: 

Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate*Special Delivery. 

Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall

Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart        *Promise Me Christmas. 

Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 

Romantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

Blog www.ginirifkin.blogspot.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Gini-Rifkin-Author/100001680213365

Amazon author  https://amzn.to/2R53KA9

Pinterest                         https://www.pinterest.com/ginirifkin/pins/

Goodreads                     http://bit.ly/2OnHbrK

Barnes and Noble          http://bit.ly/2xPs9S4

AudioBooks                  https://adbl.co/2OlWbGJ

LinkedIn                        https://www.linkedin.com/in/gini-rifkin-15950489/

Universal link                https://books2read.com/u/3JLGMv

The wild rose press     https://wildrosepress.com/?s=rifkin&post_type=product&type_aws=true