Issue 101 – December 2014
HOLLY, IVY AND ASPIDISTRAS By Stephen Guy, West Derby Society
FOR centuries people used natural greenery for Christmas decorations, bedecking their homes with holly and ivy. Folklore predicts a hard winter if there are plenty of red juicy holly berries – they provide food for the birds which need more nourishment as temperatures plummet. Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, is credited with introducing Christmas trees from Germany. Business people saw large gaps in the market and introduced many aspects of the modern festive season. Novelties such as Christmas crackers and colourful paper decorations soon arrived. The Earl of Sefton decorated Croxteth Hall in lavish style and held parties for family, friends and staff. William, the 4th Earl from 1855 until his death in 1897, was one of the more dynamic members of the ancient Molyneux family. He brought about many changes and improvements on his estate and helped rebuild much of West Derby Village. Britain saw increasing prosperity during this period but despite many reforms society was still blighted by disease and poverty. A group of Georgian houses called The Barracks in the Village were thought of as being among the poorest in the district. However, compared with some of housing in Liverpool they were snug, comfortable accommodation. Very poor people often had no furniture and little to eat – they could rarely afford anything special for Christmas. Victorian and Edwardian homes were often full of greenery whatever the season. Hardy evergreen aspidis-
tras became very popular because they could cope with difficult conditions. Rochdale’s Gracie Fields immortalised the popular plant on her 78 rpm hit The Biggest Aspidistra in the World. I saw her sing it for the last time at a 1978 concert in her home town. Ferns also decorated many more prosperous homes. They filled huge pots and jardinières, thriving in gloomy corners. One Christmas around 1900 saw souvenir class photos taken at St Mary’s School in West Derby. Girls from Class IV lined up with their teacher next to a blackboard inscribed “A happy Christmas”, supported by one of the pupils. The children sit on mats in the schoolyard. They have brought out aspidistras and other plants from the classroom to add a festive touch. The pictures were printed as glossy postcards and sent to family and friends, perhaps as alternatives to Christmas cards.
Join the West Derby Society at its next meeting 7.30pm on Wednesday 17 December at Lowlands, 13 Haymans Green, Liverpool L12 7JG.