HOLLY

The Druids believed that holly, with its shiny leaves and red berries stayed
green to keep the earth beautiful when the sacred oak lost it leaves. They
wore sprigs of holly in their hair when they went into the forest to watch their
priests cut the sacred mistletoe. �

�

Holly was the sacred plant of Saturn and was used at the Roman Saturnalia
festival to honor him. Romans gave one another holly wreaths and carried
them about decorating images of Saturn with it. Centuries later, in December,
while other Romans continued their pagan worship, Christians celebrated the
birth of Jesus . To avoid persecution, they decked their homes with Saturnalia
holly. As Christian numbers increased and their customs prevailed, holly lost
its pagan association and became a symbol of Christmas. �

�

The plant has come to stand for peace and joy, people often settle arguments
under a holly tree. Holly is believed to frighten off witches and protect the
home from thunder and lightning. In West England it is said sprigs of holly
around a young girl's bed on Christmas Eve are suppose to keep away
mischievous little goblins. In Germany, a piece that has been used in church decorations is regarded as a charm against lightning. In England, British
farmers put sprigs of holly on their beehives. On the first Christmas, they
believed, the bees hummed in honor of the Christ Child. The English also
mention the "he holly and the she holly" as being the determining factor in who
will rule the household in the following year, the "she holly" having smooth
leaves and the "he holly" having prickly ones. Other beliefs included putting a
sprig of holly on the bedpost to bring sweet dreams and making a tonic from
holly to cure a cough. All of these references give light to "decking the halls
with boughs of holly." �

�

�