Why do we get kissed if we stand under the mistletoe?

Here is an interesting article I found about the Mistletoe. Hope you enjoy, it's interesting.

 Since ancient times, the mistletoe has been one of the most magical, mysterious and sacred plants of European folklore.

The ancient Druids considered the mistletoe to be a sacred plant and believed it had miraculous powers which could cure illnesses, serve as an antidote against poisons, ensure fertility and protect against the ill effects of witchcraft. It was also believed that the mistletoe was an aphrodisiac or a sexual symbol.

From these strange beliefs has come the modern-day custom of hanging a ball of mistletoe from the ceiling and exchanging kisses under it as a sign of friendship and goodwill.

The tradition of smooching under the mistletoe descends from the customs of several different cultures. For instance, exchanging kisses under the mistletoe was a tradition of Greek festivals and marital ceremonies. If a couple in love exchanges a kiss under the mistletoe, it is interpreted as a promise to marry, as well as a prediction of happiness and long life.

The Anglo-Saxons associated the powers of the mistletoe to the legend of Freya, the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. According to the legend, a man had to kiss any young girl who, without realizing it, found herself accidentally under a sprig of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. Guys would pluck a berry when they smooched the girls and when the last berry was gone, there would be no more kissing!
In France, the custom linked to the mistletoe was reserved for New Year's Day: "Au gui l'An neuf"--Mistletoe for the New Year.

Today, kisses can be exchanged under the mistletoe any time during the holiday season.

Did you know?

Although the mistletoe is considered to be the seed of love, the common name of the plant is derived from the ancient belief that mistletoe grew from bird droppings. This strange belief was related to the ancient principle that life could spring spontaneously from dung.

In ancient times, people observed that mistletoe appeared on a branch or twig where birds had left droppings. "Mistel" is the Anglo-Saxon word for "dung," and "tan" is the word for "twig". So, mistletoe actually means "dung-on-a-twig". What a strange meaning for a plant that is supposed to bring love and happiness!

In Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant of peace, under which enemies could declare a truce or warring spouses kiss and make-up. Whenever enemies met under the mistletoe in the forest, they had to lay down their arms and observe a truce until the next day.

Today's custom of using mistletoe to decorate houses at Christmas is a survival of European beliefs and traditions. In Europe, branches of mistletoe were hung from ceilings to ward off evil spirits. In some countries, they were placed over house and stable doors to prevent the entrance of witches.

Hope you enjoyed the article. Happy Holidays. Don't forget to check out our Holiday Section @ goodlivingproducts.com. It is an easy way to shop for that special someone in your life.

Lisa Booth
Good Living Products

We Love Our Wine - Even If We Can't Afford It

Lisa and I love our wine and thought you might like this article.  It's been fun to see the popularity of wine increase in the last several years.  We love both red and white wine as well as some great varietals  that we have discovered in our home state of Arizona.

Funny how even a deep recession doesn't seem to be able to mess with our wine drinking.  Lisa and I haven't stooped to boxes or jugs yet.......but you never know what the future holds! It's all a part of Good Living!!

Here's the article:

Cheers! Salúd! Clink, clink! However you toast, Americans will be tipping their glasses this holiday season. According to new research from Mintel, two-thirds of survey respondents (67%) say they partake in wine on holidays and special occasions while at home. Another 58% drink wine at home with dinner on an ordinary night.

The wine market has grown 20% from 2004-09 despite the recession; however, shattered consumer confidence caused a 3.2% decline during the height of the financial crisis in 2008. As consumers begin to see signs that the worst of the recession is behind them, Mintel forecasts the wine market will stabilize and increase by 2.1% in 2009.

“Despite the recent decline, the future of the wine market looks bright, at least for moderately priced segments,” says Sarah Theodore, Mintel senior food and drink analyst. “Value wines have helped consumers rethink their perceptions about wine. Domestic wines have proven to be somewhat recession-proof as unpretentious, economy-priced wines are fuelling recent sales.”

How does wine chalk up next to its alcoholic beverage counterparts? So far in 2009, nearly half of survey respondents say they drink beer compared to just more than one-third who drink imported and domestic wines (47% vs. 35%). Only 17% claim to enjoy champagne and sparkling wines and even less drink port, sherry and dessert wines (7%).

Sarah Theodore notes: “As wine finds its way out of the recession, it might be taking on a new form. The down economy has given impetus to boxed wine. Marketers have an opportunity right now to really play up the benefits of this type of packaging and finally eliminate its ‘cheap’ image.”

Nearly one in five respondents appears to be status-conscious when it comes to drinking boxed wine. Consequently, 35% of those aged 21-24 say they would drink boxed wine at home, but not serve it to guests, compared to 19% of all ages. In addition, 35% of 21-24 year old wine drinkers believe the wine brand they choose reflects their status to friends, compared to only 14% of all ages.

About Mintel

Mintel is a leading global supplier of consumer, product and media intelligence. For more than 35 years, Mintel has provided insight into key worldwide trends, offering exclusive data and analysis that directly impacts client success. With offices in Chicago, New York, London, Sydney, Shanghai and Tokyo, Mintel has forged a unique reputation as a world-renowned business brand. For more information on Mintel, please visit www.mintel.com.

If you get a chance - check out our web page about Good Living at www.goodlivingproducts.com

Easy Workouts At Home

Who loves going to the gym?  Who has the time?  Here are some benefits of working out at home and some exercises I do at home.

• No wasted time driving to and from a fitness club
• No waiting in line to use the equipment
• Workout on your schedule, rather than just when the health club is open
• No expensive monthly membership fees or long-term contracts
• Motivation to workout as you pass by the equipment every day.
• Being comfortable in your own home if you don't like to work out in a club with lots of people

While some people religiously hit the gym for a workout, it is not possible for many to do the same due to varied reasons. But this does not mean it should stop us from taking care of our health and fitness and not workout. I understand it is not possible for everyone to set up a gym in their home. So to help you out here are some easy workouts / exercises that can be performed any time at home. Also another great option is home video workouts. If you need motivation and don't have a workout buddy then just follow the video and they will keep you going.

Walking (this is our favorite)

• Walking, jogging or running happens to be the simplest and cheapest kind of cardiovascular workout. This can be done in the neighborhood parks, in your neighborhood or along trails.
• Walking briskly for 15 to 20 minutes is the best way one can initiate exercising.
• It is convenient compared to other home workouts.
• Trick is to begin slowly and then steadily increase the stride and fasten pace.

If you have a walking partner, he /she will keep you motivated. And don't forget about your dogs they will always be up and ready to go with you. What a great treat for them too.

Push-Up Exercises for Anybody

• Lie chest-down with your hands at shoulder level, palms flat on the floor and slightly more than shoulder-width apart, your feet together and parallel to each other.

• Look forward rather than down at the floor. The first contact you make with the floor with any part of the face should be your chin, not your nose.
• Keep your legs straight and your toes tucked under your feet. Straighten your arms as you push your body up off the floor. Keep your palms fixed at the same position and keep your body straight. Try not to bend or arch your upper or lower back as you push up.
• Exhale as your arms straighten out.
• Pause for a moment
• Lower your body slowly towards the floor. Bend your arms and keep your palms in fixed position. Keep body straight and feet together.
• Lower body until chest touches the floor. Try not to bend your back. Keep your knees off the floor, and inhale as you bend your arms.
• Pause for a moment. Begin straightening your arms for a second push-up. Exhale as you raise your body

Squats for the Legs
Squat happens to be a great at home exercise.

• Position feet about shoulder-width apart.
• Keep your torso straight. There should be a slight arch in your lower back.
• Now begin movement by bending the knees.
• Lower your body / go down only till you feel comfortable. If you are able to lower yourself till both your thighs stand horizontally parallel, do so.
• Now using the power in your legs, push yourself steadily back up to the starting / original position.

Initially one can opt to use a bar to grip while doing this exercise for balance.  Stop using the bar when you get stronger with squats.

Crunches for the Abs

• Lie down flat on your back. Your knees should be bent and your feet placed comfortably on the floor.
• You can choose to hold clasp your hands either on your chest or behind your head. Just make sure that you do not pull on your head.
• In the simple crunch, you are instructed to just roll the upper torso upward.
• Hold for few seconds at the top of the movement and squeeze hard.

To boost effectiveness of crunch exercise, you can instead push your chest and head up towards the ceiling keeping your lower back flat onto the floor.

Just a few tips and workouts that I have found and have used and they really do work. With the combination of working out, eating right and vitamins you are heading down a very healthy path. Please check out our website @ www.goodlivingproducts.com/ for more healthy ideas.
 
GOOD LUCK!!
Roger & Lisa Booth of Good Living Products, LLC