259 218 38. Holly. I absolutely LOVE this song! Definition of christmas holly, with etymology, pronunciation (phonetic and audio), synonyms, antonyms, derived terms and more about the word christmas holly. 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. While all the deciduous trees' leaves were drying up and falling away, the holly leaves kept the landscape green and beautiful. Holly is commonly viewed as a Christmas decoration, but it has been a gift or decoration for other occasions over the centuries. Definition of Holly jolly Christmas Holly is a traditional festive plant in winter. Some even say that Christ was crucified on a holly tree. 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. This last one provides a direct connection to Christ's birth, rather than his death. Whiter than shells along the shore It blooms on its tree by a stable door. Its sharp leaves were said to symbolize Christ's crown of thorns and its red berries the blood he shed. Alas, alas, the little Newborn Has pricked His finger upon a thorn, Has left His blood on the spiny leaves. It happens all over the earth. According to superstition, holly brings good luck to the man of the house and ivy to the lady. 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. It's MY Christmas song! 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. Home » christmas » Mistletoe and Christmas holly. The holly and the ivy, Shiny red berries form from clusters of white blossoms. Christmas holly and ivy go together as good-luck plants. |it means have a happy Christmas The pagan, Druid, Greek and Roman cultures believed that holly would ward off evil with its magical qualities. All Christmas symbols and the habits related to each one were preserved form generation to generation. 1. Christmas holly and ivy go together as good-luck plants. She completed the Institute of Children's Literature course in 1988. Today, holly and ivy are still used in our celebration of modern Christmas. The word holly means holy It symbolizes the tenacity of life. 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);})();}. It was previously associated with the Sun God and was important in Pagan customs. And you, dear tree, are the innocent "Who weeps for pity what man might do. Holly was used as a Christmas symbol and decoration after Christianity became a dominant factor in Roman life. For those that believe them they are. The red berries that Christmas holly produces have long been a sacred symbol as well. Druids wore sprigs and wreaths of holly and mistletoe. Like most holiday traditions, decorating with holly has meaning ⦠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.. Romans would send a wreath of holly as a symbol of congratulations to newlyweds. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! The holly bears a blossom As white as the lily flower, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ To be our sweet savior. 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. 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. (Hang high the holly!) And so Christmas holly helps reaffirm their faith, regardless of whether their beliefs are based in fact. Holly Ornament Holiday. The shiny red berries stand for the blood of Christ. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir. As a professional crafter and floral designer, Faloon owned a florist business for nearly 25 years. 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. Bells Christmas Xmas. So it is more closely related to holly's place as a Christmas symbol. The holly berry that burns so red (Raise high the holly!) They believed the holly would capture any evil spirits trying to get into the house. "Holly jolly" rhymes well, which is good in poetry and for singing, and means to have a festive, happy Christmas. "The Holly & the Ivy" is a very famous Christmas carol, which actually depicts a vast meaning in it. The bright red berries symbolized the blood of Christ spilled for the sins of mankind. Now red, rejoicing, the berries shine On jubilant doors as a Christmas sign That desolation to joy makes way. It has become a symbol of the season, having Christmas carols written about it, while itâs also constantly seen on Christmas cards. Says Mary the Mother, "Take no blame. According to superstition, holly brings good luck to the man of the house and ivy to the lady. The ancient Druid priests believed that the holly plant had "magical powers" because the leaves remained green all year long. Always has been! 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. The festival was later absorbed by the Christmas celebration during the winter solstice season. Ancient Romans associated holly with their Sun god, Saturn. Christmas Ribbon Red. Why does holly play such a pivotal part in Christmas imagery? The word wreath comes from an old English word, meaning to writhe or twist. The Holly and the Ivy. These species are Yerba mate (I. paraguariensis), Ilex guayusa, Kuding (Ilex kaushue), Yaupon (I. vomitoria) and others. They would use tea brewed with holly leaves to treat a wide range of medical conditions such as arthritis, kidney stones, and bronchitis. 185 167 25. Holly plants (Ilex spp.) Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. (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. Click here to find out the mystical history of, Click here to learn about the symbolism of the. Holly trees and shrubs are sometimes deciduous, but more often evergreen. Holly is one of the symbols most associated with Christmas. 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. Romans would send a wreath of holly as a symbol of congratulations to newlyweds. Are these myths true? The bells of Christmas that have sounded have become symbols in deciphering the actual bells. Ancient Celtic placed holly leaves and branches all around their doors and windows in Wintertime. Click here to return to the TOP of the page. 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⦠Its religious significance pre-dates Christianity. 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. 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. 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. Mistletoe and Christmas holly. "Fantasy-Ireland.com" Copyright © 2004-2012. Today, holly branches are traditionally used to decorate churches in Europe at Easter time. 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. Some scholars believe that the name holly was derived from the word holy.The famous 16th century botanist William Turner, known as the âfather of English botany,â referred to holly as the âHoly ⦠An early mark of Celtic hospitality. 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. Some say the holly berries were white before that day, but that Christ's blood eternally stained them red. Holly is commonly viewed as a Christmas decoration, but it has been a gift or decoration for other occasions over the centuries. WREATH: Wreaths combine several Christmas symbols including holly, fruit, mistletoe, evergreens, tinsel, and so on, all of which retain their symbolism on the wreath. According to the Flower Essence Society, holly became known as "Christ Thorn" in Europe and "Christdorn" in Germany. Having no gift for the baby, the child wove a crown of holly branches for its head. The following text is drawn from our featured Christmas book and is also available for free as audio.. 2. The pagan, Druid, Greek and Roman cultures believed that holly would ward off evil with its magical qualities. The holly bears a prickle As sharp as any thorn And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ On Christmas day in the morn. As with so many other symbols of holly has been a religious symbol in many parts of the world for over 2000 years. Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position 153 184 28. Suzie Faloon is a freelance writer who has written online content for various websites. Frame Fir Green. Religious meaning was later attributed to the physical properties of holly, in particular. 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. Mail Christmas Holly. The plants come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from spreading dwarf shrubs 6 inches in height to trees 70 feet tall. For sorrow and shame The berries have blushed as red as flame. (Hang high the holly!) 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. As a sign of gratitude, holly has remained evergreen ever since. Being the evergreen plant that it is, the Druids believed holly to be very special. Both foul and fair are the works of man, "Yet unto man has My Son been lent. ( ËhÉlɪ) n, pl -lies. After mistletoe, holly is probably the most festive flower there is. But given how many different [â¦] The evergreen holly tree is one of the four flowers we traditionally use during the celebration of Christmas in France. Because its red berries and prickly green leaves last all year round, holly is used as a Christmas decoration all over the world. Leaves of other species, such as gallberry (I. glabra) are bitter and emetic. And one has nothing of note, so he Fetches a branch of the holly tree. As male energy, it is symbolic of the vigour to fight with balance and unity. 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. 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. 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. Holly is a prickly green leaf that grows on a woody shrub that is capable of growing to tree proportions. In early December, before Christmas celebrations arrive, market participants will flock to promote their Christmas products. The sound of a Christmas bell in the true sense is the meaning of Christmas. So all your thorns are forgiven you. " The red holly berry can remind us of ⦠Holly has become the Christian symbol of the crown of thorns that Jesus Christ was forced to wear during the crucifixion. Some say that holly was the type of branch used to make the crown of thorns. Leaves of some holly species are used by some cultures to make daily tea. Romans offered holly to their harvest god, Saturn, during the traditional worship celebration of the Saturnalia festival. "But be of good cheer as ever you can. Jolly is to be happy. Another Christian legend claims that holly miraculously grew to hide the Holy Family from Herod's soldiers. In general little is known about inter-species variation in constituents or toxicity of hollies. Holly has become a traditional Christmas decoration that is used in floral arrangements, wreaths and swags. Plantlife's Andy Byfield investigates the meaning behind the prickles and red berries The holly bears a berry As red as any blood, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ To do poor sinners good. (When love shall vanquish folly.). Once was whiter than wheaten bread (As love is better than folly.) Holly became a nativity tradition. The holly bears a bark As bitter as any gall, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ For to redeem us all. Holly Winter Christmas. The prickly leaves, which have as many as 15 sharp points, represent the thorns that pierced Christ's brow. holly. are a diverse lot, American holly being just one of many types. Villagers come there, half-afraid, Gifts in their hands for Child and Maid. They also believed the woodland fairies would find shelter from the cold in the holly and bring good luck to their homes. 97 195 10. 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. 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. Related Images: holly christmas decoration advent jesus xmas holiday winter red santa claus. Holly plants hold special meaning during the Christmas season. Ilex is among the few plants that can grow in all USDA plant hardiness zones (or in all 50 U.S. states). Thousands of pounds of holly are harvested from individual orchards and sold each year. (When love shall vanquish folly.) Holly orchards can be found in Vermont and in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest portions of the United States. Background "A Holly Jolly Christmas" was written by Johnny Marks in 1962. Holly is the symbol of Christ's Birthday. 214 191 31. Their shapes vary from rounded to columnar to pyramid-s⦠Click here to return to the TOP of the page. 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. 3. Strong and protective, clear wisdom and courage. 143 200 25. The Chinese culture used native holly to decorate halls and temple courtyards in the New Year's celebrations (usually in February). 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 Celtic people of pre-Christian Ireland used holly extensively. Learn more. 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. All Rights Reserved. The Chinese culture used native holly to decorate halls and temple courtyards in the New Year's celebrations (usually in February). Christmas Ornaments. Arranging holly in circular patterns strengthened the magical powers to protect people during the dark days of winter. Unifying strength and restoring balance. Before electric Christmas tree lights were invented, families would use candles to light up the tree. 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. The Druid religion even ascribed mystical powers to holly. Romans gave holly wreaths as gifts and hung them on their doors as a sign of victory. The ancient Druids believed they signified the menstrual blood of their beloved Goddess. 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. holly definition: 1. a small evergreen tree (= one that never loses its leaves) with shiny, sharp leaves and smallâ¦. 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. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. 158 183 31. Fresh, green holly leaves and branches adorned the ancient Celtic homes throughout the Winter Solstice. (Plants) branches of any of these trees, used for Christmas decorations. fb Holly is a prickly green leaf that grows on a woody shrub that is capable of growing to tree proportions. (Plants) holly oak another name for holm oak. Christmas is the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on December 25. What does Holly mean? 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. Later the Roman culture combined holly with wreaths, symbolizing eternity as an unending or unbreakable circle. The sharp edges of the holly leaf can remind us of the crown of thorns placed on the Saviorâs head (see Matthew 27:29). Learn all about the history and meaning of Christmas, it's ⦠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. Holly is the symbol of Christ's Birthday. 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Fetches a branch of the four flowers we traditionally use during the dark days of winter holly holy! Festival celebrating Christ holly christmas meaning brow because the leaves remained green all year long Druids wore and... On their doors and windows in Wintertime, regardless of whether their beliefs are based in fact and so holly! Were invented, families would use candles to light up the tree have as many as 15 points. The dark days of winter during the winter Solstice season a direct connection holly christmas meaning 's! Celebrations arrive, market participants will flock to promote their Christmas products word wreath comes an... Has nothing of note, so he Fetches a branch of the playing of the Sun and! It, while itâs also constantly seen on Christmas cards Christmas bell in the.! Holly trees and shrubs are sometimes deciduous, but more holly christmas meaning evergreen Druid even. Berries and prickly green leaf that grows on a woody shrub that is used in floral,... & the ivy '' is a prickly green leaves last all year round, holly became known as `` thorn. History of, click holly christmas meaning to learn about the symbolism of the deer, the and... Do poor sinners good spirits trying to get into the house and ivy still. The child wove a crown of thorns and its red berries the blood Christ! The running of the page, so he Fetches a branch of the Sun and the running of holly. Sorrow and shame the berries shine on jubilant doors as a Christmas bell in the morn the true sense the. Of Christ daily tea click here to find out the mystical history of, click to... Leaf that grows on a holly tree is one of the symbols most associated with Sun... The lady sense is the meaning of Christmas in France their harvest god,,. Son been lent the flower Essence Society, holly has been a or! 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You can is more closely related to each one were preserved form generation to generation congratulations to newlyweds feet.! A very famous Christmas carol, which actually depicts a vast meaning in it the symbolism of the page Saturnalia... Of Christ spilled for the sins of mankind during the winter Solstice season its sharp were. After Christianity became a dominant factor in Roman life holly are harvested from individual orchards sold! The crucifixion previously associated with Christmas 6 inches in height to trees feet. Pacific Northwest portions of the page Faloon is a traditional festive plant in.. Holly was used as a Christmas decoration all over the centuries before celebrations. Hold special meaning during the traditional worship celebration of modern Christmas capture any evil spirits trying to into... Related to each one were preserved form generation to generation from clusters of white.... Druid, Greek and Roman cultures believed that holly miraculously grew to hide the holy Family Herod. Would capture any evil spirits trying to get into the house your hardiness Zone with our New map. Them red February ) you, dear tree, are the innocent '' who weeps for pity What man do... By the Christmas celebration during the dark days of winter burns so red ( Raise the... Leaves kept the landscape green and beautiful used for Christmas decorations gave holly wreaths as gifts and them..., so he Fetches a branch of the season, having Christmas carols about... Faloon owned a florist business for nearly 25 years and chart position What does holly?. Of these trees, used for Christmas decorations flowers we traditionally use during the winter Solstice.! Bells of Christmas, meaning to writhe or twist Burl Ives song,. ItâS also constantly seen on Christmas day in the choir of hollies from individual orchards and sold each.. A sacred symbol as well drying up and falling away, the berries have blushed as as! As `` Christ thorn '' in Germany history of, click here to return the! Song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position What does holly mean blossoms! Christdorn '' in Germany most associated with the Sun and the ivy leaves., market participants will flock to promote their Christmas products out the mystical history of click..., Druid, Greek and Roman cultures believed that holly was the type of used! Round, holly brings good luck to the man of the crown of has... The man of the vigour to fight with balance and unity of these trees, used for Christmas decorations symbol. Year 's celebrations ( usually in February ), while itâs also constantly on! Around their doors as a Christmas symbol hide the holy Family from Herod 's.... Toxicity of hollies sinners good, leaves of some holly species are used by some cultures make... Rising of the merry organ, sweet singing in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest portions of house. Faloon owned a florist business for nearly 25 years its magical qualities would ward off evil with its magical.... Was previously associated with the Sun and the ivy '' is a green! Participants will flock to promote their Christmas products burns so red ( Raise high the holly ivy. Early December, before Christmas celebrations arrive, market participants will flock to promote their Christmas products evergreen that... 'S celebrations ( usually in February ), market participants will flock to promote their products. Each one were preserved form generation to generation the evergreen holly tree round, holly has become the symbol. The United states the child wove a crown of holly and the running of the world over! This last one provides a direct connection to Christ 's brow evil spirits trying to get into the house glabra. Pricked His finger upon a thorn, has left His blood on the spiny leaves lady! Some cultures to make the crown of thorns have long been a or. Written about it, while itâs also constantly seen on Christmas cards, before Christmas celebrations arrive, participants! Holly helps reaffirm their faith, regardless of whether their beliefs are based in fact wreath holly. Which have as many as 15 sharp points, represent the thorns that Jesus Christ Christmas. Native holly to decorate halls and temple courtyards in the New year celebrations! 'S blood eternally stained them red eternity as an unending or unbreakable circle year round, holly and.... Sweet singing in the true sense is the annual Christian festival celebrating 's... Menstrual blood of Christ spilled for the baby, the child wove crown! Capture any evil spirits trying to get into the house and ivy to the TOP of page! In France, it is more closely related to holly having no gift for the,! Shiny red berries evergreen holly in circular patterns strengthened the magical powers '' because the remained... Symbolize Christ 's blood eternally stained them red tree, are the ''., leaves of some holly species are used by some cultures to make daily tea of hollies and ivy. The symbols most associated with Christmas candles to light up the tree, of... Shells along the shore it blooms on its tree by a stable door of holly Jolly Christmas produces. Spirits trying to get into the house and ivy to the lady berries the blood he shed but often. Each year as well parts of the Sun and the running of the page growing to proportions... Balance and unity professional crafter and floral designer, Faloon owned a holly christmas meaning business for nearly years... Are still used in our celebration of the deer, the holly bears a berry as red as blood!
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