Christmas Tradition of Holly

The festival of Christmas is celebrated with great gusto and festive spirit all over the world. Christmas has universal appeal. The festival brings hope, happiness and joy in every person's life. Families organize get together, parties and feasts during the festival, which helps them to enjoy with family and friends. A Christmas tree is brought home and decorated with ornaments, festive lights and tinsel. Christmas cannot be celebrated without good Christmas music. During Christmas, homes are decorated with wreaths and twigs of mistletoe. There is a tradition of holly to be used in Christmas decoration. Holly branches are an integral part of Christmas.

Holly is an evergreen tree that grows in Europe. The tree has green leaves and red berries. The leaves are ever green even in winter season. The origin of holly tradition is quite old and is traced in the Roman festival of Saturnalia. The Druids were the people who used holly leaves for the first time during winter festival. They believed that holly drives out evil spirits. The Christian legends says that Jesus's crown of thorns was made of holly leaves while the red berries are due to the blood drops of Jesus. Many believe that holly tree grew due to the steps of Jesus. There is a belief that the cross used to crucify Jesus was made of the wood of holy tree.

During medieval times, holly tree got associated with good omen and fortune. It was believed that the tree helps to protect the house from thunder and lightning. The holly branches keep the evil spirits away and hence, the branches are used as a piece of decoration in Christmas. The boughs and leaves of the holly are used in wreaths and other decoration. The wreaths are hung on the entrance doors of homes during festival time. The holly trees are not cut in whole. In Britain, many people referred to Holly as Christmas. During pre-Victorian time, Christmas tree was holly bush. Slowly, holly became a part of Christmas decorations.

Holly boughs are cut and kept in a flower vase filled with water to retain its freshness. The holly branch has to be kept in cool place, which has no direct contact with sunlight. The evergreen color of holly in winter gives people hope about the coming spring and green stands for prosperity. The holly decorations are kept from Christmas Eve to Feast of Epiphany in the homes. This brings positivism, nature inside home and good luck for the entire family. They are people who believe if the holly decoration I s kept after Epiphany then it will bring misfortunate. So, there is a tradition of removing decoration on this day. Holly is one of the most popular Christmas symbol. Holy is synonymous to Christmas decoration.