December 22nd

 Around about the day of the winter Solstice I always try and go out for some nice bits of greenery to bring in for Christmas.

I've got Holly and Ivy from the same places that I've collected from for the last few years, a sprig of Yew from the Churchyard, just a little clipping from my Bay tree (I'm going to need to repot it or plant it out next year as it's probably getting pot bound). Plus the Mistletoe which came from a Christmas Fayre a few weeks ago.

I stupidly left the mistletoe out in the greenhouse in a jug and discovered it had frozen solid and broke the bottom of the old blue and white china jug - which I'm quite sad about.

The Holly has been decking the halls far longer than any other Christmas decorations and the well known song goes back a long way too. Originally a C16 Welsh song for New Year with new words written in the  1800s.

Deck the hall with boughs of holly,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
'Tis the season to be jolly:
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Fill the meadcup, drain the barrel,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Troul the ancient Christmas carol.
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!

See the flowing bowl before us,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Strike the harp, and join in chorus:
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
While I sing of beauty's treasure.
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses:
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Laughing quaffing all together,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Heedless of the wind and weather.
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!

I've written about Holly and the Ogham Tree Alphabet HERE  and Ivy HERE

Back Tomorrow

Sue