Each Christmas, decorated trees, twinkling lights and familiar carols take centre stage in creating a festive holiday atmosphere. Certain plants play key roles as well: church altars banked with poinsettias, mistletoe hung over doorways, and holly adorning floral arrangements. Ironically, the histories of most Christmas plants have pagan roots, some dating back to the druids in the 13th and 14th centuries. Yet over the centuries they evolved into beloved Christian symbols. Christmas plants such as the holly, ivy, mistletoe and poinsettia became Christmas favourites due in part to their bright colours and evergreen properties. The colours do a lot for the drab, cold and dark time of year when other plants have died and the landscape looks bare.
Holly
Holly's ability to look good in both winter and summer certainly helped its position in folklore. Representing immortality and seen as a good omen, holly was considered sacred by the ancient Romans and used as a gift during festivals. Holly was brought into homes when winter began to shelter the elves and faeries. During the early years of Christianity in Rome, many Christians continued to deck their homes with holly to avoid detection and persecution. Gradually, holly became a Christmas symbol as Christianity became the dominant religion. Because the holly leaf has sharp, pointy edges, Christians see the holly representing Jesus' crown of thorns and the red berries representing the blood He shed on the cross.
Ivy
Aside from the familiar carol, "The Holly and the Ivy," the ivy vine doesn't have quite the Christmas tradition as mistletoe and holly. It was associated with Bacchus the Roman god and thought to bring good luck, fun and ecstatic happiness. Growing the plant on the outside walls of a house was believed to be a deterrent against misfortune. However, if it died, it was thought that financial trouble was approaching. Like evergreens, ivy was also seen as a symbol of eternal life. Because ivy symbolized prosperity and charity, it became associated with Christmas, a time to celebrate the rich rewards of life yet remember the less fortunate.
Mistletoe
Legend explains that the tears of Scandinavian goddess Frigga saved her son after he was shot with an arrow made of mistletoe. She then ordered mistletoe never again be used to harm others and made it a symbol of peace and love. It was also hung over doorways to ward off evil and bring happiness, health and good luck, and kissing under the mistletoe was thought to increase the possibility of marriage in the upcoming year. When Christianity took a foothold in northern Europe, mistletoe was one of the pagan casualties. For centuries it was forbidden on Christian altars. Eventually, mistletoe found its way back into acceptance when the Victorians revived the ancient ritual of kissing under the mistletoe as a sign of love, romance and good luck.
Poinsettias
While most Christmas plants date back several hundred years to Europe and the Mediterranean, the poinsettia is a relatively recent Christmas symbol based in the Western world. Native to Mexico and cultivated by the Aztec Indians, the poinsettia is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, who exported it from Mexico in 1828. After the Spanish conquest and the introduction of Christianity, the poinsettia found a place in Christmas rituals. The legend of the poinsettia tells of a poor village boy in Mexico who wanted to give the Holy Child a gift, but had no money. In desperation, he picked some weeds on his way to church to leave as his gift. He prayed to God to help him show his love and God answered by turning the weeds into a beautiful star-shaped flower with bright red leaves. The poinsettia has been a Christmas symbol ever since signifying how Jesus meets the needs of His believers
Holly
Holly's ability to look good in both winter and summer certainly helped its position in folklore. Representing immortality and seen as a good omen, holly was considered sacred by the ancient Romans and used as a gift during festivals. Holly was brought into homes when winter began to shelter the elves and faeries. During the early years of Christianity in Rome, many Christians continued to deck their homes with holly to avoid detection and persecution. Gradually, holly became a Christmas symbol as Christianity became the dominant religion. Because the holly leaf has sharp, pointy edges, Christians see the holly representing Jesus' crown of thorns and the red berries representing the blood He shed on the cross.
Ivy
Aside from the familiar carol, "The Holly and the Ivy," the ivy vine doesn't have quite the Christmas tradition as mistletoe and holly. It was associated with Bacchus the Roman god and thought to bring good luck, fun and ecstatic happiness. Growing the plant on the outside walls of a house was believed to be a deterrent against misfortune. However, if it died, it was thought that financial trouble was approaching. Like evergreens, ivy was also seen as a symbol of eternal life. Because ivy symbolized prosperity and charity, it became associated with Christmas, a time to celebrate the rich rewards of life yet remember the less fortunate.
Mistletoe
Legend explains that the tears of Scandinavian goddess Frigga saved her son after he was shot with an arrow made of mistletoe. She then ordered mistletoe never again be used to harm others and made it a symbol of peace and love. It was also hung over doorways to ward off evil and bring happiness, health and good luck, and kissing under the mistletoe was thought to increase the possibility of marriage in the upcoming year. When Christianity took a foothold in northern Europe, mistletoe was one of the pagan casualties. For centuries it was forbidden on Christian altars. Eventually, mistletoe found its way back into acceptance when the Victorians revived the ancient ritual of kissing under the mistletoe as a sign of love, romance and good luck.
Poinsettias
While most Christmas plants date back several hundred years to Europe and the Mediterranean, the poinsettia is a relatively recent Christmas symbol based in the Western world. Native to Mexico and cultivated by the Aztec Indians, the poinsettia is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, who exported it from Mexico in 1828. After the Spanish conquest and the introduction of Christianity, the poinsettia found a place in Christmas rituals. The legend of the poinsettia tells of a poor village boy in Mexico who wanted to give the Holy Child a gift, but had no money. In desperation, he picked some weeds on his way to church to leave as his gift. He prayed to God to help him show his love and God answered by turning the weeds into a beautiful star-shaped flower with bright red leaves. The poinsettia has been a Christmas symbol ever since signifying how Jesus meets the needs of His believers
Horticultural.
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