259 218 38. Click here to find out the mystical history of, Click here to learn about the symbolism of the. Click here to return to the TOP of the page. For those that believe them they are. The holly berry that burns so red (Raise high the holly!) Dolly Parton On The Meaning Behind Her Christmas Song With Miley Cyrus "It just had that type of melody that lended itself to the special kind of voicing that Miley has." The red berries that Christmas holly produces have long been a sacred symbol as well. 158 183 31. Holly is the symbol of Christ's Birthday. According to the Flower Essence Society, holly became known as "Christ Thorn" in Europe and "Christdorn" in Germany. Because of all the associations with the Crucifixion and its prevalence in the Wintertime, Christmas holly was soon embraced as a symbolic Christmas decoration all across Catholic Ireland. H olly as a girls' name is pronounced HAH-lee.It is of Old English origin, and the meaning of Holly is "the holly tree".Botanical name from Middle English holi(n), Old English holegn.First used in the early 20th century. Background "A Holly Jolly Christmas" was written by Johnny Marks in 1962. "But be of good cheer as ever you can. Learn all about the history and meaning of Christmas, it's … The sharp edges of the holly leaf can remind us of the crown of thorns placed on the Savior’s head (see Matthew 27:29). The prickly green leaves of the holly are a reminder to early Celtic Christians of the crown of thorns Jesus wore on the day of the Crucifixion. Plantlife's Andy Byfield investigates the meaning behind the prickles and red berries All Christmas symbols and the habits related to each one were preserved form generation to generation. Although the holly plant (Ilex) is seen throughout the year, it is typically around the winter holiday season that this evergreen shrub gets the most attention. Ancient Celtic placed holly leaves and branches all around their doors and windows in Wintertime. Before electric Christmas tree lights were invented, families would use candles to light up the tree. Strong and protective, clear wisdom and courage. Holly. When Balder, the son of the Norse goddess Frigga, was killed by an arrow made of mistletoe by Loki, and evil spirit, she wept tears of white berries which brought him back to life. In early December, before Christmas celebrations arrive, market participants will flock to promote their Christmas products. Shiny red berries form from clusters of white blossoms. This last one provides a direct connection to Christ's birth, rather than his death. Once was whiter than wheaten bread (As love is better than folly.) The Chinese culture used native holly to decorate halls and temple courtyards in the New Year's celebrations (usually in February). Holly has become a traditional Christmas decoration that is used in floral arrangements, wreaths and swags. The prickly leaves, which have as many as 15 sharp points, represent the thorns that pierced Christ's brow. Both foul and fair are the works of man, "Yet unto man has My Son been lent. Alas, alas, the little Newborn Has pricked His finger upon a thorn, Has left His blood on the spiny leaves. Today, holly and ivy are still used in our celebration of modern Christmas. And you, dear tree, are the innocent "Who weeps for pity what man might do. Holly definition is - any of a genus (Ilex of the family Aquifoliaceae, the holly family) of trees and shrubs; especially : either of two (I. opaca of the eastern U.S. and I. aquifolium of Eurasia) with spiny-margined evergreen leaves and usually red berries often used for Christmas decorations. They also believed the woodland fairies would find shelter from the cold in the holly and bring good luck to their homes. Learn more. And one has nothing of note, so he Fetches a branch of the holly tree. The pagan, Druid, Greek and Roman cultures believed that holly would ward off evil with its magical qualities. What does Holly mean? The holly bears a bark As bitter as any gall, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ For to redeem us all. An early mark of Celtic hospitality. It happens all over the earth. The Chinese culture used native holly to decorate halls and temple courtyards in the New Year's celebrations (usually in February). The Christmas Holly History also includes the fact that the Christians in order to avoid ill treatment made Holly a part of their Christmas decorations. As with so many other symbols of holly has been a religious symbol in many parts of the world for over 2000 years. Click here to return to the TOP of the page. are a diverse lot, American holly being just one of many types. "The Holly & the Ivy" is a very famous Christmas carol, which actually depicts a vast meaning in it. It was the title song of The Quinto Sisters' first album Holly Jolly Christmas, recorded in June 1964 for Columbia Records, featuring guitarist Al Caiola with arrangements by Frank Hunter and Marty Manning.. Christmas holly, which flourishes all across the Emerald Isle, even in the coldest of temperatures, has been a treasured winter decoration for thousands of years in Ireland. Christmas holly brings color to a colorless landscape...and reminds us that although the daylight is scarce and everywhere it is cold and gray, springtime is just around the corner. From the Nativity to the tree, from the mistletoe to the Advent Wreath, from the holly to the Panettone, all merge together to create a unique atmosphere , whose meaning is often forgotten when looking at the whole, but that can only spread among everyone. In general little is known about inter-species variation in constituents or toxicity of hollies. Bells Christmas Xmas. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir. The holly bears a berry As red as any blood, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ To do poor sinners good. Frame Fir Green. Holly is commonly viewed as a Christmas decoration, but it has been a gift or decoration for other occasions over the centuries. Holly plants hold special meaning during the Christmas season. The holly and the ivy, 185 167 25. She completed the Institute of Children's Literature course in 1988. Holly Winter Christmas. It was also one of the plants our Celtic ancestors used during the Winter Solstice celebrations. Definition of christmas holly, with etymology, pronunciation (phonetic and audio), synonyms, antonyms, derived terms and more about the word christmas holly. The ancient Druids believed they signified the menstrual blood of their beloved Goddess. Another Christian legend claims that holly miraculously grew to hide the Holy Family from Herod's soldiers. Fresh, green holly leaves and branches adorned the ancient Celtic homes throughout the Winter Solstice. Whiter than shells along the shore It blooms on its tree by a stable door. It is believed that holly is the basis for the colors of red and green during the Christmas season, when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. Says Mary the Mother, "Take no blame. |it means have a happy Christmas Year after year, century after century, holly sprigs and wreaths, with their deep green leaves and bright red berries, deck the halls in homes, schools and stores as festive decorations for the Christmas season. The festival was later absorbed by the Christmas celebration during the winter solstice season. "Holly jolly" rhymes well, which is good in poetry and for singing, and means to have a festive, happy Christmas. The bells of Christmas that have sounded have become symbols in deciphering the actual bells. Holly is the symbol of Christ's Birthday. fb (When love shall vanquish folly.). The bright red berries symbolized the blood of Christ spilled for the sins of mankind. The word wreath comes from an old English word, meaning to writhe or twist. Mail Christmas Holly. Also, during this season, two other holidays share the significance of candles and light: Hanukkah , the Festival of Lights, in Judaism; and Kwanzaa , a unity celebration of people displaced during the African diaspora, where one candle of the kinara candle holder is lit over seven nights. The red holly berry can remind us of … Holly orchards can be found in Vermont and in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest portions of the United States. 1. Holly trees and shrubs are sometimes deciduous, but more often evergreen. After mistletoe, holly is probably the most festive flower there is. Romans offered holly to their harvest god, Saturn, during the traditional worship celebration of the Saturnalia festival. Christmas is the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on December 25. The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all the trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown. Holly is a prickly green leaf that grows on a woody shrub that is capable of growing to tree proportions. The shiny red berries stand for the blood of Christ. The pagan, Druid, Greek and Roman cultures believed that holly would ward off evil with its magical qualities. Fantasy Ireland is created by Deborah A. Felkerand is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.For permissions beyond the scopeof this license contact the author. Christmas holly and ivy go together as good-luck plants. Holly is one of the symbols most associated with Christmas. Holly was used as a Christmas symbol and decoration after Christianity became a dominant factor in Roman life. The sound of a Christmas bell in the true sense is the meaning of Christmas. (Plants) holly oak another name for holm oak. Romans gave holly wreaths as gifts and hung them on their doors as a sign of victory. For sorrow and shame The berries have blushed as red as flame. The holly bears a prickle As sharp as any thorn And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ On Christmas day in the morn. Today, holly branches are traditionally used to decorate churches in Europe at Easter time. Meaning of the name Holly: Taken from the name of the holly tree, an evergreen whose stiff, glossy, sharp-pointed leaves and clusters of red berries are used in Christmas… Another legend about this Christmas plant says that a little orphan boy was living with the shepherds when the angels came to announce the birth of the newborn king. Romans would send a wreath of holly as a symbol of congratulations to newlyweds. Some say that holly was the type of branch used to make the crown of thorns. holly definition: 1. a small evergreen tree (= one that never loses its leaves) with shiny, sharp leaves and small…. And so Christmas holly helps reaffirm their faith, regardless of whether their beliefs are based in fact. Unifying strength and restoring balance. All Rights Reserved. Arranging holly in circular patterns strengthened the magical powers to protect people during the dark days of winter. Some scholars believe that the name holly was derived from the word holy.The famous 16th century botanist William Turner, known as the “father of English botany,” referred to holly as the “Holy … Being the evergreen plant that it is, the Druids believed holly to be very special. holly. 2. Since holly is often used as shelter by the tiniest of woodland creatures, especially flying insects, it's easy to see how this superstition developed. Home » christmas » Mistletoe and Christmas holly. As male energy, it is symbolic of the vigour to fight with balance and unity. ( ˈhɒlɪ) n, pl -lies. Villagers come there, half-afraid, Gifts in their hands for Child and Maid. It is believed that holly is the basis for the colors of red and green during the Christmas season, when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. I absolutely LOVE this song! Holly became a nativity tradition. They would use tea brewed with holly leaves to treat a wide range of medical conditions such as arthritis, kidney stones, and bronchitis. 97 195 10. According to superstition, holly brings good luck to the man of the house and ivy to the lady. As Christianity took hold in Celtic Ireland, many ancient Roman and Celtic traditions were combined and carried over into Celtic Christianity, including Celtic Christmas traditions. Its religious significance pre-dates Christianity. After the Winter Solstice, the Druid priests would go into the forests to collect mistletoe (another plant sacred to the Druids) and the Celtic people would follow them wearing holly in their hair. (Plants) any tree or shrub of the genus Ilex, such as the Eurasian I. aquifolium, having bright red berries and shiny evergreen leaves with prickly edges. Leaves of other species, such as gallberry (I. glabra) are bitter and emetic. The evergreen holly tree is one of the four flowers we traditionally use during the celebration of Christmas in France. The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all the trees that are in the wood The holly bears the crown. Being a common part of the winter landscape, Christmas holly provided a free and easy way for even the poorest of families to decorate their homes for the holidays. Christmas holly and ivy go together as good-luck plants. Some even say that Christ was crucified on a holly tree. It has become a symbol of the season, having Christmas carols written about it, while it’s also constantly seen on Christmas cards. They believed the holly would capture any evil spirits trying to get into the house. (Hang high the holly!) But given how many different […] Leaves of some holly species are used by some cultures to make daily tea. 214 191 31. WREATH: Wreaths combine several Christmas symbols including holly, fruit, mistletoe, evergreens, tinsel, and so on, all of which retain their symbolism on the wreath. Holly Ornament Holiday. So all your thorns are forgiven you. " Holly is a prickly green leaf that grows on a woody shrub that is capable of growing to tree proportions. (Hang high the holly!) The holly bears a blossom As white as the lily flower, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ To be our sweet savior. Why does holly play such a pivotal part in Christmas imagery? Now red, rejoicing, the berries shine On jubilant doors as a Christmas sign That desolation to joy makes way. Definition of Holly jolly Christmas Holly is a traditional festive plant in winter. Its sharp leaves were said to symbolize Christ's crown of thorns and its red berries the blood he shed. Holly, Ivy and other greenery such as Mistletoe were originally used in pre-Christian times to help celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival and ward off evil spirits and to celebrate new growth. Ilex is among the few plants that can grow in all USDA plant hardiness zones (or in all 50 U.S. states). It was previously associated with the Sun God and was important in Pagan customs. Are these myths true? Mistletoe and Christmas holly. These species are Yerba mate (I. paraguariensis), Ilex guayusa, Kuding (Ilex kaushue), Yaupon (I. vomitoria) and others. Druids wore sprigs and wreaths of holly and mistletoe. The ancient Druid priests believed that the holly plant had "magical powers" because the leaves remained green all year long. Ancient Romans associated holly with their Sun god, Saturn. Holly plants (Ilex spp.) While all the deciduous trees' leaves were drying up and falling away, the holly leaves kept the landscape green and beautiful. The Druid religion even ascribed mystical powers to holly. Romans would send a wreath of holly as a symbol of congratulations to newlyweds. (When love shall vanquish folly.) It's MY Christmas song! When Christianity came into Western Europe, some people wanted to keep the greenery, to give it Christian meanings but also to ban the use of it to decorate homes. Having no gift for the baby, the child wove a crown of holly branches for its head. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Christmas Ribbon Red. Holly is commonly viewed as a Christmas decoration, but it has been a gift or decoration for other occasions over the centuries. Always has been! As a sign of gratitude, holly has remained evergreen ever since. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. 153 184 28. It is interesting to note that with the passage of time Holly's association with the Christmas festival became strong as it became one of the important Christmas symbols, and in the way lost its connection with its roots. Its evergreen nature means its leaves are more thick-skinned than most other flowers and shrubs, giving it an ability to survive the harshness winter. Heavy of heart the holly grieves, Sees in a terrible vision how A crown of holly shall bind His brow When Child is man. Later the Roman culture combined holly with wreaths, symbolizing eternity as an unending or unbreakable circle. The Holly and the Ivy. So it is more closely related to holly's place as a Christmas symbol. The plants come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from spreading dwarf shrubs 6 inches in height to trees 70 feet tall. Holly has become the Christian symbol of the crown of thorns that Jesus Christ was forced to wear during the crucifixion. Suzie Faloon is a freelance writer who has written online content for various websites. Religious meaning was later attributed to the physical properties of holly, in particular. Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position Like most holiday traditions, decorating with holly has meaning … "Fantasy-Ireland.com" Copyright © 2004-2012. Related Images: holly christmas decoration advent jesus xmas holiday winter red santa claus. Because its red berries and prickly green leaves last all year round, holly is used as a Christmas decoration all over the world. 143 200 25. Thousands of pounds of holly are harvested from individual orchards and sold each year. Jolly is to be happy. In addition to those that have already been cited in the text of this article, the following resources were invaluable in the course of my research: ChristStory Christmas Holly Page by Suzetta Tucker, Click here for my other Irish Christmas Resources, Click here to find out the mystical history of Mistletoe, Click here to learn about the symbolism of the Candle in the Window, Click here to return to an Irish Christmas on Fantasy-Ireland.com, if(document.location.protocol=='http:'){var Tynt=Tynt||[];Tynt.push('cSG3W0qH0r4Alzacwqm_6r');Tynt.i={"ap":"Read Original Here: ","st":true,"cc":"2","t":true,"b":true};(function(){var s=document.createElement('script');s.async="async";s.type="text/javascript";s.src='https://tcr.tynt.com/ti.js';var h=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];h.parentNode.insertBefore(s,h);})();}. As a professional crafter and floral designer, Faloon owned a florist business for nearly 25 years. Some say the holly berries were white before that day, but that Christ's blood eternally stained them red. Their shapes vary from rounded to columnar to pyramid-s… Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, christmas holly image by Julianna Olah from, Christmas Carnivals: Christmas Holly History, University of Vermont Extension: Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly, Flower Essence Society: Holly Plant Study. Christmas Ornaments. (Plants) branches of any of these trees, used for Christmas decorations. Evergreen Holly in the Celtic mythology. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! 3. The word holly means holy It symbolizes the tenacity of life. The Celtic people of pre-Christian Ireland used holly extensively. Later the Roman culture combined holly with wreaths, symbolizing eternity as an unending or unbreakable circle. The following text is drawn from our featured Christmas book and is also available for free as audio.. 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Wreaths as gifts and hung them on their doors as a Christmas decoration, but Christ. `` but be of good cheer as ever you can many shapes sizes..., while it’s also constantly seen on Christmas day in the choir the Southeast and Pacific Northwest portions the... He Fetches a branch of the Sun god and was important in pagan.... The following text is drawn from our featured Christmas book and is available. The most festive flower there is year 's celebrations ( usually in February ) mystical history of, click to! Are sometimes deciduous, but that Christ 's blood eternally stained them red magical. Remained evergreen ever since long been a religious symbol in many shapes sizes. Leaves remained green all year long flowers we traditionally use during the season. Year long deciduous trees ' leaves were said to symbolize Christ 's crown of.! Druid priests believed that holly miraculously grew to hide the holy Family from Herod 's.. Advent Jesus xmas holiday winter red santa claus Christ spilled for the blood he shed the shiny red berries prickly. Is among the few plants that can grow in all USDA plant zones! The baby, the holly bears a prickle as sharp as any blood and.