Why do we decorate with holly at Christmas?
During the holiday season, holly adorns houses all over the world. The prickly green plant and its red berries are a popular ornament for those looking to enliven their homes with a little Christmas spirit. But where did this tradition begin? Why do we deck our halls with boughs of holly foliage every December? What does holly represent in the celebration of Christmas? Christmas Image Gallery In this article, you’ll learn where holly grows, what it’s used for (besides holiday dcor), how it gets those red berries and why it would make your season most unjolly if you ate them. You will also learn about the Christian and pre-Christian symbolism of this famous plant, and the legends surrounding its existence. Despite its association with the Christmas season, holly did not get its name from “holy.” It is translated in Old English as holegn, with variations in Old Norse
