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| Christmas Carnivals » Christmas History » Christmas Holly History |
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Christmas Holly History |
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The Holly, which is strongly linked with Christmas, has a history of its own. Though Christmas Holly history has its roots in Northern Europe, the sanctity of the Holly plant has a pagan origin. The Holly plant is characterized by green leaves that have a prickly
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nature and it was the Druids who used to adorn their heads with twigs of the Holly plant whenever they went to the forest.
The Romans offered Holly to Saturn during the time of Saturnalia festival as it was taken into account that the Holly was the sacred plant of Saturn. They not only embellished the image of Saturn with Holly but also gifted each other holly chaplets (flower arrangement used for ornamental purposes). The Christians in order to avoid ill treatment, made Holly a part of their Christmas decorations. It is interesting to note that with the passage of time Holly’s association with the Christmas Festival became strong as it became one of the important Christmas Symbols, and in the way lost its connection with its roots.
In England, however a strong distinction is made between the ‘he holly’ and the ‘she holly’, based on the nature of the leaves. The ‘he holly’is characterized by prickly leaves while ‘she Holly’ is characterized by the smoothness of the leaves. People believe in the fact that the Holly helps in driving away the evil spirits as it is endowed with some magical powers.
The leaves of the Holly actually symbolizes the crown of thorns, with which Lord Jesus was forced to adorn his head with, while its red berries reminds one of the blood which Christ had to shed in this world. Christmas carnivals help you to know more about the Christmas Holly History.
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