Lynn McGinnis

“Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la…”

Ever wonder why? Me too! Even though its beautiful shiny green leaves and red berries look amazing, why is it so popular at Christmas?

Well, actually holly has a long history, dating back to ancient civilizations and bringing plenty of rich stories and tradition along with it. The small plant can be found in many different places in the world and has ties to antiquity and the Christian religion.

Some scholars believe that the name holly was derived from the word holy. The famous 16th century botanist William Turner, known as the “father of English botany,” referred to holly as the “Holy Tree.” It is also called “Christ’s Thorn” throughout various parts of Europe. Other scholars maintain however that the word holly can trace its roots to an Indo-European word meaning “prickly” or “to prick.”

Regardless of the etymology of the word, Christians have identified a wealth of symbolism in the form of holly. The sharpness of the leaves help to recall the crown of thorns worn by Jesus; the red berries serve as a reminder of the drops of blood that were shed for salvation, and the shape of the leaves, which resemble flames, can serve to reveal God’s burning love for his people. Combined with the fact that holly maintains its bright colors during the Christmas season, it naturally came to be associated with the Christian holiday.

Before holly was hung in houses to accompany Christmas trees, it was considered to be a sacred plant by the Druids. While other plants wilted in winter weather, holly remained green and strong, its berries maintain a brightly colored red in the harshest of conditions. The Druids regarded holly as a symbol of fertility and eternal life, thought to have magical powers. In Druid lore, cutting down a holly tree would bring bad luck.

In contrast, hanging the plant in homes was believed to bring good luck and protection. Holly was also thought to protect homes against lightning strikes. Romans associated holly with Saturn, the god of agriculture and harvest, and decked the halls with its boughs during the festival of Saturnalia.

Holly is an evergreen shrub-like tree that can grow up to 10 to 15 feet tall. Its thick, leathery dark green leaves have noticeably serrated edges with bright red berries (on the female versions of the plant) that are toxic when consumed by humans (and most household pets).

Able to thrive in sunlight or shade with well-drained soil, this versatile shrub or tree is easy to grow.

Branches of this festive plant have symbolized various ideas for different cultures around the world and throughout history.

Due in part to its evergreen quality, holly is often used to decorate for many winter holidays and celebrations.

Holly trees are best known as “Christmas Holly” because their bright green leaves and red berries stand out in the winter landscape. Yet, there are many kinds of holly that can grow in Texas, including many native varieties that you can find growing wild. This is because the Texas climate is so variable. Texas ranges from USDA Hardiness zones 7a to 10a, which allows for holly trees with different hardiness levels.

Knowing now how pervasive holly is throughout history in winter celebrations, it’s no wonder we continue to include it in our biggest winter festival each year. The beauty of this magnificent tree coupled with the long list of stories and legends that come with it make holly a beautiful symbol of Christmas. So whatever holiday tradition you are celebrating this December, enjoy it with loving family and friends.