The distinctive image of red and green holly is one of the elements that have become closely associated with Christmas.
Everyone is familiar with the song ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ that is often sung during the festivities, and holly is also a common feature of Christmas decorations and cards. But where does the association come from?
It actually started back in the Roman period, when holly was used in the Saturnalia Festival that celebrated the god Saturn.
The dates for this festival were from 17th to 23rd December, and people would gift each other wreaths of holly. Saturn was depicted as the god of agriculture, so the choice of a plant was appropriate.
Holly was also a pagan symbol of the winter solstice in Europe. Pagan mythology saw the spring and summer months ruled by the Oak King, while the Holly King reigned over the autumn and winter. Thus, the plant was already tied to the winter period, and December in particular.
When Christianity supplanted paganism, the symbolisation of holly was retained and became almost synonymous with the Christmas period. The sharp pointed holly leaves represented Jesus’s Crown of Thorns, while its bright red berries went on to represent the drops of his blood.
While some of these links may be fairly obscure to people now, holly remains a staple part of the holiday season to this day. Many of us still hang sprigs up when we are putting together our festive decorations, even if we are not really aware of the true story behind its origin.
