HOLLY AT CHRISTMAS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 29, 30 November 1943, Page 3

HOLLY AT CHRISTMAS

For countless; years the holly lias ])een associated with the. blazing Yule log. and the Christmas feasting in the Northern Hemisphere, though we in the South know it only by name at. this time, of the year. From time immemorial it has been the good old custom in England to brighten up the interiors of church and hall, cottage and castle, with boughs and sprigs of holly at Christmas,. The favourite plants for church and, home decoration included bay, rosemary, ivy, and laurel, with holly in the foremost place, A Nature writer tells us that the holly was dedicated to Saturn, and as the fetes of that deity was celebrated in the month of December, and the. Romans were accustomed to decorate their houses with holly,, the early Christians did so, too. when they celebrated their festival of Christmas, in order that they might escape, observation. Whether this be the true, origin of the preference for holly with which to decorate houses at Yuletide is not known, but from the earliest times of Christianity holly has played a conspicuous part in the festivities of this season. O the holly tree branch, he is stout and strong, And he recks not if Winter be short or long : , For boldly he enters where, mirth prevails, At* the Christmas board, at the Christmas tales : But the mistletoe crops like a poor. old fellow, With blood so cold, and with cheeks so yellow ; Yet let him but hide, in the festive hall, And you'll lind him the jollies! guest of all. The holly with its brilliant clusters of berries is a symbol in England of jollity and the Christmas spirit, and as such, is highly appreciated by all who love the festive season in true Dickensian manner.