Thursday 22 December 2022

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

25 comments:

  1. A shame about the frozen, broken pitcher. Way back in my childhood I carelessly broke my mothers blue and grey and white pitcher. She was sad to tears, which made me hysterical. It was an irreplaceable antique. The death of yours feels like the one I carelessly broke so long ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not too upset - as I always think - "the worst has already happened" no point getting too upset

      Delete
  2. Lovely collection of greenery, but sad about the breakage.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes, shame about the breakage. We've got loads of Holly inside this year and it looks great. Apparently witches hate Holly?!
    Alison in Wales x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holly is very good protection against wicked witches!

      Delete
  4. It's always the favourite things that break. Hope you can find a worthy replacement at a car boot sale. I am still trying to get myself in a Christmas mood, but it just ain't happening this year.

    Nice to have all the words to Deck the Halls - really takes us back to those "good old days".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As soon as I found it I thought "something to look out for at a boot sale next year!"

      Delete
  5. Still need to get some greenery but might end up not bothering this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't bring in too much now I'm in a central heated bungalow but like a jug full on the table and much cheaper than bunch of flowers

      Delete
  6. We have lots of holly in the garden, but no berries. I mix it with eucalyptus. I've had pots of it in the house for a few days now and the smell is lovely - dragging me into feeling festive! Sorry about the jug.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A Eucalyptus would be a plan for the corner here as its evergreen and grows huge - would block out the houses behind!

      Delete
  7. Thanks again for the nudge. I shall don my thickest gardening gloves and brave the prickly holly tree later.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The first Holly tree I looked at had no berries, but thankfully the second had plenty within reach

      Delete
  8. That is a shame about the jug, could it be glued back together and used for dried flowers? I am slowly adding to the greenery around the house (no cut down and trucked from Lord knows where Christmas tree here but my potted Calamondin tree makes a wonderful substitute) and it is all smelling wonderful. Beware planting the bay in the garden - they grow huge. I had a walk around the garden yesterday and it is interesting to see what has turned to brown mush in the freezing temperatures, but bulbs are tentatively nosing their way through the sodden ground and spring will be here before we know it. Sarah in Sussex

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We took a bay tree in a pot to the smallholding in 1992 and 20 years later it was so big it had to be cut down! But I doubt I'll still be around in 20 years here so it could go in the corner and block out the houses behind me

      Delete
  9. And a big Fa, la, la, la, la, to you along with a pleasant Christmas and healthy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you - and Happy Christmas and New Year to you too

      Delete
  10. Any holiday greenery in my home is fake! I pull the same things out every year and often put them in the exact same places. Tradition!
    Hope your Christmas is joyful, Sue!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like to go and find a few bits from around the hedges not too far away

      Delete
  11. That is a beautiful arrangement of holly and ivy. The red berries make it especially lovely for Christmas. Loss of your antique jug is an unfortunate accident. It would be nice if you came across a replacement eventually. "Deck The Halls" is one of my favorites. I also like to "deck the halls" with greenery. Happy Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad the second holly tree I visited had berries as the first had none. I shall look out for a similar sized jug at boot sales next year

      Delete
  12. We've had so much ice, the planters at the base of my shed supports have both broken over the past week, I think a spot of superglue might be required when I can be bothered. What a shame about your jug though. :-(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm cross as I could have moved it to the shed and it would probably been OK - but never mind

      Delete