Holly

[Susan McGee]

No: HPFGUIDX 2604

Holly was one of the symbols appropriated by Christians from the
pagans.

To the druids, holly was the plant of death and regeneration, sacred 
to Mother Holle, or Hel, the underworld Goddess (1). Germanic witches
who worshipped her favored holly wood for magic wands. Red holly 
berries showed the female blood of life color, corresponding to
white mistletoe berries associated with male elements of semen and 
death. In the divine marriage at Yule, they were displayed together.

The "holy" holly was linguistically liked with Hel's yonic "hole" 
(Germanic Hohle, a cave or grave). It was the most sacred of trees, 
according to a carol sung by medieval pagans at Yuletidy, saying 
holly "bears the crown." (2)

In the Dionysian cult, female holly was paired with the god's male 
symbol, ivy (3). Green boughs of both were used to adorn doorways the 
solstice festival. 

Tertullian condemned the custom, saying any Christian who 
has "renounced temples" should not make a temple of his own hosue 
door (4). Nonetheless, house-decorating with holly, ivy, or mistletoe 
at the winter solstice (Yule) continued despite Chrstian disapproval.

The Council of Bracara ruled that no Christian should bring holly 
into his house for Christmas, because it was a custom of "heathen 
poeple" (5) Heathen or not, it was inextricably linked with Yuletide 
celebrations and could not be eradicated.

Holly had sexual symbolism, the kiss under the mistletoe indicated
the union of holly and ivy.

(1) Goodrich, 54
(2) Graves, 186
(3) de Lys, 63
(4) Miles, 269
(5) Hazlitt 118