The Holly Wreath

Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

4 Dec 15

@LadyDuck You could always ask Ivy, she may know what it is.

4 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

4 Dec 15

I am sure there is another about the holly, but I cannot remember it.

3 people like this

RasmaSandra

@RasmaSandra (79687)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

4 Dec 15

@LadyDuck Nothing comes to mind at the moment but I sure love your story. I made me smile. Just delightful to think about that.

3 people like this

AbbyGreenhill

@AbbyGreenhill (45494)

• United States

4 Dec 15

I never heard that one before. Thanks.

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

4 Dec 15

Some legends are sweet, no matter if we know that are not true.

4 people like this

AbbyGreenhill

@AbbyGreenhill (45494)

• United States

4 Dec 15

@LadyDuck Absolutely.

3 people like this

Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43910)

• Cambridge, England

6 Dec 15

I hadn't heard of this legend. One of the commonest ones is that the Cross was made of holly wood and the Crown of Thorns was made of holly leaves (the berries becoming red ever after to represent the drops of blood). Because of this, the holly tree was, ever after, reduced to being a shrub. Of course, there are fairly substantial holly trees in hedgerows and forests and holly wood is very hard and white, though may have frequent knots. It is mostly used as a decorative wood in cabinet making and marquetry. It takes stains well and was often dyed black to imitate ebony (for example, for teapot handles).

4 people like this

Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43910)

• Cambridge, England

6 Dec 15

@LadyDuck The holly wreaths that people hang on their doors are made from twisted holly twigs (and other things). I think that the wreath (though of bay and other things) was originally meant to be a crown to be worn on the head for Saturnalia. Of course, both the tradition you mention and the one that I quoted must be fiction because holly doesn't grow wild in Israel, so it could not have been cut by a young shepherd boy and nor could it really have been the wood that the cross was made of or the real crown of thorns.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

6 Dec 15

I never heard that the crown of thorns was made of holly leaves, you cannot make a crown using the leaves and if you look at every picture there are no leaves in the Crown.

2 people like this

pgn

@pgntwo (22408)

• Derry, Northern Ireland

6 Dec 15

@owlwings Thanks for the insight into the use of the knotty holly wood in cabinet making and marquetry, interesting.

3 people like this

Morning Girl

@salonga (27775)

• Philippines

5 Dec 15

I've just heard of that legend. I think kids will enjoy listening to it. I don't know any other Christmas legends. All I know is the story of Jesus birth as written in the Bible.

3 people like this

Lee Ka

@kaka135 (14931)

• Malaysia

5 Dec 15

@LadyDuck Yes, I agree with that. I like to tell the story about Three Kings to my children on Three Kings' Day too. I know there are many more stories to tell, I am slowly finding them out and telling to my children.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

5 Dec 15

There are many sweet legends to read to the children during this festive time.

2 people like this

Marie

@Tampa_girl7 (50188)

• United States

4 Dec 15

Awe, what a beautiful story.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

5 Dec 15

I like short and sweet legends, we need something peaceful for those coming holidays.

Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (41387)

• United States

4 Dec 15

There's a legend that the animals can talk at midnight on Christmas Eve, but I don't know the details.

4 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

5 Dec 15

Yes, you are right, I remember that I have read this legend when I was a kid, but I cannot remember the details either.

2 people like this

Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (41387)

• United States

5 Dec 15

@hiru84 If I can find the rest of the legend, I'll post it.

2 people like this

Suranga Abeysekara

@hiru84 (942)

• Malaysia

5 Dec 15

@LadyDuck I think, you know many sweet and short stories.I really like short stories and folktales.

2 people like this

@Shellyann36 (11384)

• United States

8 Dec 15

I did not know this legend. My aunt and uncle used a holly tree as a Christmas tree one year. It was beautiful. Right now our holly bushes look festive.

2 people like this

rebelann1949

@rebelann (112774)

• El Paso, Texas

23 Jun 19

I want one .... now to figure out how to grow one in this desert Well, time to play some games on irazoo, see ya soon

1 person likes this

narinder

@rocky1980 (530)

• Chandigarh, India

5 Dec 15

very interesting legend. thanks for sharing.

2 people like this

Jabo

@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

5 Dec 15

I hadn't heard that either. Is there a legend as to why it is so prickly?

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

5 Dec 15

Yes there is one The night the sacred family was fleeing to Egypt, they heard the soldiers and there were no place to hide. They decided to hide beneath a holly bush, but they were not safe enough. Suddenly the holly grew strong green leaves with thorns to protect the sacred family. Since that night all the hollies are evergreen with strong thorns.

7 people like this

Jabo

@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

5 Dec 15

@LadyDuck Oh that's brilliant - I thought you'd know!

2 people like this

Arham Araf

@ARHAM_ARAF (1)

• Dhaka, Bangladesh

5 Dec 15

1 person likes this

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

7 Dec 15

I have a full grown holly bush in my garden - I pick some for Christmas decorations closer to the date. Mine has not yet had a bush of berries, maybe we live in too hot a climate. I love the story - thank you for sharing, this one I didnt know.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

7 Dec 15

I have noticed that the berries grow at the beginning of October, we have a tall holly tree in the garden and it is usually covered with berries by Christmas, this year the blackbirds have eaten everything, no one berry left.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

7 Dec 15

@Fleura You are right, one of my neighbor had a holly without berries, while all the others have berries.

2 people like this

Fleur

@Fleura (30342)

• United Kingdom

7 Dec 15

Maybe you have a male plant, hollies are either male or female and not both like many plants are.

2 people like this

Gary Marsh

@garymarsh6 (23404)

• United Kingdom

5 Dec 15

I have not heard that one before Anna it is new on me!

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

5 Dec 15

I loved the Christmas legends when I was a young girl. I still remember some, but not all of them.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

5 Dec 15

@garymarsh6 We also have a large one, I used to cut branches to decorate, but this year the blackbirds have eaten all the red berries.

1 person likes this

Gary Marsh

@garymarsh6 (23404)

• United Kingdom

5 Dec 15

@LadyDuck We have a large holly tree in the garden, Sometimes people ask if they can have some so they can make a wreath.

2 people like this

PaintsOnSlate

@PainsOnSlate (21852)

• Canada

4 Dec 15

That is beautiful and I've not heard it before. No stories right now, maybe later...

3 people like this

Deborah-Diane

@DeborahDiane (40288)

• Laguna Woods, California

5 Dec 15

What a wonderful legend. I never heard this one before.

2 people like this

Vivenda

@Vivenda (583)

• Portsmouth, England

4 Dec 15

Thanks, Anna - I hadn't heard that story before!

2 people like this

Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61102)

• United States

5 Dec 15

I have an article about the symbolism of Christmas decorations. Holly was sacred to the ancient Druids and it is a common part of English holiday decorating traditions. It was believed that holly placed on a door would keep evil spirits out.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

5 Dec 15

@BelleStarr The mistletoe was sacred to the ancient Druids, the Chief Druid cut the sacred mistletoe from the Oak using a golden sickle. In Italy we still offer the mistletoe for Christmas.

3 people like this

Jabo

@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

5 Dec 15

@LadyDuck @BelleStarr - I'm learning so much here

2 people like this