The Holly and the Ivy

A small sprig of holly and ivy found on a quick walk to the edge of the village's  millennium wood. I didn't go right round the wood - it was incredibly muddy after all the rain we've had in the last week or two.

Holly was thought to bring good luck and a tree was often planted outside the cottage door, protection against lightening in a storm and from witches. It was cut to bring into the house for early decorations

Although Holly has male and female varieties it was a plant for men, who in medieval times would put a sprig on their hats - making them irresistible to women!

One legend says holly had yellow berries until Christ's blood was shed on the cross and the cross was made from the wood of a holly tree and used for the crown of thorns (other legends say Blackthorn which is far more painfully prickly).

Illustration from my book "A Christmas Scrapbook" with a late Victorian or Edwardian Christmas Card

Ivy was not welcomed in the house so much, it was thought of as a weak and clinging plant and because it was often seen in graveyards, climbing over tombstones it became associated with death. 

The Roman god Bacchus, a God of wine, wore a crown of ivy. He had a group of female worshippers known as Bacchae who would drink an intoxicating concoction of the juice of ivy leaves and the poisonous fly agaric mushroom. It was once believed that ivy wood in a glass of wine would filter out poisons.

Now Ivy needs to be appreciated as an important plant for wildlife, both for winter shelter and as food for birds, bees, moths, butterflies and other insects. 

The Choir of King's College Cambridge singing the well known Christmas Hymn . Once the pagan story of the fight between the male Holly and female Ivy to rule the winter season.

Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown.

Yesterday's coffee for the 6th day of advent was Hazelnut - lovely.