Illex aquifolium, a plant whose greenery has long been associated with Christmas and magical powers.
During bleak Decembers, the red berries and green leaves of the holly make the plant a natural choice for decorating homes and churches for the Christmas season. Holly can be found in wreaths, on altars and tables, in doorways and accompanying the mistletoe or Kissing Bunch; its image can be seen on Christmas cards, gift wrap and seasonal art.
Holly reminded medieval Christians of both the Incarnation and the Passion: its berries seeming to be drops of blood and its prickles reminiscent of the Crown of Thorns that circled Christ’s brow at his crucifixion. In fact, in one legend, holly was the tree that was used for the cross, a dubious distinction also given in other legends to the mistletoe.
Supernatural virtues are attributed to holly in many countries. It can be used for divining the future: a ritual for determining one’s mate calls for the curious to pick nine berries in silence at Friday midnight, to then tie the berries with nine knots in a three-cornered handkerchief, and place them under the pillow. If one can remain silent until next morning one will dream of the future spouse. Holly is a weapon against witchcraft and English girls used to tie the plant to their beds to ward off demons. In Louisiana berries were said protect folk from the evil eye and lightning — a belief that was echoed in Germany as long as the holly had previously been used in decorating the church. Tossing a sprig of holly on the Christmas fire would guarantee an end to troubles and the plant was also looked to a cure for rheumatism, asthma, bad dreams, coughing and the gout.
In folkore the prickly-leafed holly is considered “male” and the smooth-leafed variety “female”. Which type was brought first into the house at Christmas would determine who ruled the roost that year, the husband or the wife. Moreover, while ivy was considered a female plant which brought luck to women, the holly was said to bring good fortune to men.