The Holly and the Ivy

Everybody has heard the carol “The Holly and the Ivy” at least once at Christmas - but do you know the actual symbolism of these two plants at the yuletide season? Read on!

In pagan times, holly was thought to be a male plant and ivy a female plant. An old English Midlands tradition says that whichever was brought first into the house after Christmas Eve predicts whether the man or the woman of the house would rule the household that year!

Holly is believed to date back to the Druids, for whom the plant represented everlasting life. Christians adopted the plant to signify the crown of thorns worn by Jesus, and the red berries as the blood.

Ivy is said to symbolize fidelity and, as an evergreen, eternal life. The Ancient Egyptians dedicated ivy to Osiris, the god of immortality, whilst the Ancient Greeks associated ivy with Dionysus due to its vigorous growth.

In both of these plants, which stay evergreen throughout the winter season, lies the promise of new growth and new life come Spring. Most people decorate with just pine and holly nowadays, but consider adding some glossy, deep green ivy to your festive presentation!

Thank you to all of our customers from those of us at The Garden of Eden… may your upcoming year be the best you’ve ever had, and from all of us, Happy Holidays!