The Holly and the Ivy
The Holly and the Ivy, a Christmas carol dating from the 17th - 18th Century, is one of my most favorite. The concept of Holly and Ivy has come to symbolize different things over time, from the original pagan festivities of the Winter Solstice, or emerging as a homage to Jesus Christ and his Virgin birth, to even being a representation of the Battle of the Sexes. The dreaded Pagans - Holly was sacred to the Druids. To alleviate the dreariness of winter they would decorate their dwelling places with it, allowing the greenery and the berries to recall the Springtime to come, the hope and promise of rebirth. Pagans fashioned Holly and Ivy into wreaths and garlands for the Winter months; Ivy had a close association with the idea of Bacchus, the Roman God of wine, Holly with Saturnalia (upon which the Christmas holiday was based) Holly and Ivy were accepted decorations during Roman times, and despite the disapproval of early church fathers, they gradually found ...