The Legend of Christmas Holly
Holly is one of the most easily identifiable Christmas symbols. Green leaves with bright red berries are some of the first things we think about when we hear the word Christmas. However, there is also more to holly than just a pretty tree decoration. It is a plant with a long history, folklore, traditions, and symbolism that go way beyond one holiday season.
The Ancient History of Holly
The story of Christmas holly starts long before the celebration of Christ’s birth. Holly was a sacred plant in ancient times, worshipped by Druids and Romans. Its evergreen leaves, which kept their beautiful, shiny color even during the harshest of winters, made the plant associated with the power of eternal life. Druids believed that holly could protect them from evil spirits. Romans adorned their homes with it to honor Saturn and the festival of Saturnalia. The ancient belief was that this would welcome abundance and chase away evil luck.
Christmas Holly
As Christianity became more popular throughout Europe, it absorbed a lot of pagan traditions and symbols. And, of course, holly was one of them. Holly began to symbolize hope and faith at a time of the year when all of nature was asleep, when all you could see was bare, dark branches. The association with Christ came from the resemblance of the plant to a crown of thorns. This is how thorny holly leaves became a symbol of the sacrifice made by Christ. Healed of its pagan past, the holly tree became a common decorative image of churches, carols, and nativity scenes.
Decorating with Holly
Holly, along with other evergreen plants such as ivy and mistletoe, has become one of the most common types of Christmas greenery. It is one of the most popular plants for making wreaths and garlands and for including in centerpieces and other table arrangements. Red and green is the unofficial Christmas color palette, and holly matches it perfectly. While people mostly use it as a house decoration, holly trees and bushes are also a great outdoor ornament. When they blossom, they look very impressive and can be a constant addition to a Christmas holiday that lasts all year round.
Symbolism and Holly Superstitions
Like most plants, holly has a different meaning in different cultures and countries. For instance, in England, a common custom was for the men and women of a household to argue about which type of holly they should bring inside. There are prickly hollies with sharp leaves and smooth ones with slightly less jagged leaves. The former was supposed to bring more luck to men, the latter to women. In any case, bringing holly indoors on Christmas Day was considered a way of spreading peace, goodwill, and harmony in a family.
Fun Facts about Christmas Holly
Holly is always green: Holly leaves keep their shine even in the coldest and most unforgiving winters, which has led to a symbolic representation of its strength, vitality, and eternal life.
Bird food: Holly is a lifesaver for many birds in winter. Birds love to eat its berries, which are the only food available to them at this time of the year. However, they also need the foliage to rest.
Varieties of Holly: There are over 400 different species of holly around the world. The European Holly (Ilex aquifolium) is the one we most commonly associate with Christmas decorations.
Christmas holly is more than just a decoration for our Christmas trees. It is a sacred plant with a history that spans many years and cultures. From ancient times to modern days, it has continued to carry its symbolic meanings of eternal life, faith, and joy. When families decorate their homes with its bright berries and dark leaves, they not only make their space prettier but also take part in an age-old tradition, which has so much history and symbol in it.