Another says that holly sprang up from his footsteps. Less common symbolism includes the holly's white blossoms representing purity, and the idea that if the holly used to decorate a home for Christmas is prickly, the man will rule the house for the coming year; but if the holly used is smooth, the woman will rule. The town of Milton, Del.
Why do we decorate with holly at Christmas?
State of Delaware ]. How to Make a Christmas Wreath. Why do we decorate with holly at Christmas? Christians consider holly symbolic of the crown of thorns worn by Jesus when he died on the cross. Leaves in the upper parts of the tree are also likely to be smooth. Flowers are white with four petals. Could be confused with: Identified in winter by: It is commonly found in woodland, scrub and hedgerows, especially in oak and beech woodland. Popular as an ornamental shrub, holly is widely planted in parks and gardens, and there are many cultivated forms featuring alternative foliage and berry colours.
- Israel Strikes.
- Bitte was? An American authors misadventures in the German language.
- History of Holly - Why do we decorate with holly at Christmas? | HowStuffWorks.
- What does holly look like?.
Holly provides dense cover and good nesting opportunities for birds, while its deep, dry leaf litter may be used by hedgehogs and small mammals for hibernation. The flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects.
- Christmas Traditions and Customs?
- Das Märchen von Gockel, Hinkel und Gackeleia (German Edition).
- Mary Stuart Celebrated Crimes.
- Navigation menu?
The leaves are eaten by caterpillars of the holly blue butterfly, along with those of various moths including the yellow barred brindle, double-striped pug and the holly tortrix. The smooth leaves found at the tops of holly trees are a winter source of food for deer. The berries are a vital source of food for birds in winter, and are also eaten by small mammals such as wood mice and dormice. Holly branches have long been used to decorate homes in winter. The tree was seen as a fertility symbol and a charm against witches, goblins and the devil.
It was thought to be unlucky to cut down a holly tree. Holly wood is the whitest of all woods, and is heavy, hard and fine grained. Ilex canariensis , from Macaronesia , and Ilex aquifolium arose from a common ancestor in the laurel forests of the Mediterranean. Australia, isolated at an early period, has Ilex arnhemensis. Of species growing in China, species are endemic.
A species which stands out for its economic importance in Spanish-speaking countries and in Brazil is Ilex paraguariensis or Yerba mate. Having evolved numerous species that are endemic to islands and small mountain ranges, and being highly useful plants, many hollies are now becoming rare. Often the tropical species are especially threatened by habitat destruction and overexploitation. At least two species of Ilex have become extinct recently, and many others are barely surviving.
They are extremely important food for numerous species of birds, and also are eaten by other wild animals. In the autumn and early winter the fruits are hard and apparently unpalatable. After being frozen or frosted several times, the fruits soften, and become milder in taste. During winter storms , birds often take refuge in hollies, which provide shelter, protection from predators by the spiny leaves , and food. The flowers are sometimes eaten by the larva of the double-striped pug moth Gymnoscelis rufifasciata. Other Lepidoptera whose larvae feed on holly include Bucculatrix ilecella , which feeds exclusively on hollies, and the engrailed Ectropis crepuscularia.
Holly can contain caffeic acid , caffeoyl derivatives, caffeoylshikimic acid , chlorogenic acid , feruloylquinic acid , quercetin , quinic acid , kaempferol , tannins , rutin , caffeine , and theobromine. Holly berries can cause vomiting and diarrhea. They are especially dangerous in cases involving accidental consumption by children attracted to the bright red berries.
Holly leaves, if eaten, might cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach and intestinal problems. Holly plants might be toxic to pets and livestock. Leaves of some holly species are used by some cultures to make daily tea. These species are Yerba mate I. Leaves of other species, such as gallberry I. Holly — more specifically the European holly, Ilex aquifolium — is commonly referenced at Christmas time, and is often referred to by the name Christ's thorn.
Since medieval times the plant has carried a Christian symbolism , [37] as expressed in the well-known Christian Christmas carol " The Holly and the Ivy ", in which the holly represents Jesus and the ivy represents the Virgin Mary. Christians have identified a wealth of symbolism in its form. The sharpness of the leaves help to recall the crown of thorns worn by Jesus; the red berries serve as a reminder of the drops of blood that were shed for salvation ; and the shape of the leaves, which resemble flames, can serve to reveal God's burning love for His people.
Combined with the fact that holly maintains its bright colors during the Christmas season , it naturally came to be associated with the Christian holiday. In heraldry , holly is used to symbolize truth.
Where to find holly
The Norwegian municipality of Stord has a yellow twig of holly in its Coat-of-arms. The Druids held that "leaves of holly offered protection against evil spirits" and thus "wore holly in their hair". In the Harry Potter novels, holly is used as the wood in Harry 's wand. He is born at Midsummer and rules from Mabon to Ostara. A contorted hedgehog holly Ilex aquifolium 'Ferox'.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Holly - Wikipedia
For other uses, see Holly disambiguation and Ilex disambiguation. Not to be confused with Holy. Ilex pernyi from west China. Retrieved 27 November