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Pams Flower Power- December Holly Pages 14
from Eden Local Issue 177
by Lee Quinn
being linked to Christmas and the tradition of bringing leaves and berries into the home. The Druids, Celts and Romans all brought evergreens into their homes during the winter; when everything else appeared dead and lifeless the green and red of the holly became a symbol of hope for the return of the spring and also of fertility.
In Christianity the symbolism of the spiny leaves as Jesus’ crown of thorns and the red berries as the blood is told in the Christmas Carol ‘The Holly and the Ivy’.
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Holly was also thought to ward off evil spirits, mischievous fairies and guard against witches. It is considered bad luck by some, even today, to cut down a holly tree because of the protection they provide. In some rural areas holly trees are often allowed to grow through hedges to prevent witches from running along the top of the hedgerow!
Holly trees were traditionally planted near houses to offer protection from lightning; this is not as strange as it may first sound. It has been shown that the spiny prickles on the leaves can act as tiny lightning conductors which protect the tree and also anything that may be nearby!
The heavy, hard and finely grained wood of holly is the whitest of all the woods so is often used in furniture making, marquetry, chess boards and also for walking sticks. It is excellent firewood burning steadily with a strong heat; perfect for a cold winter evening around Christmas perhaps!
No more flower facts for this year; now to plan what to write about next year… see you in 2022!
By Pam Waggott References. www.woodlandtrust.org.uk www.plantlife.org.uk www.treesforlife.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk www.flowerfairies.com
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