Evergreens have traditionally been used to decorate homes and churches at Christmas time, yet of all the evergreens, holly is the one that seems to represent the season of Christmas most.

Holly came to represent the crown of thorns worn by Christ at His Crucifixion. There is a legend that the berries of the holly were once white, but when the crown of thorns was pressed on Christ�s head all holly berries turned red to represent His blood. In Denmark, the name for holly is the Christ-thorn.

People used to believe that holly bought good luck. Animals were thought to thrive if a piece was hung in the cowshed on Christmas Eve, and a holly tree planted outside the house kept it safe from lightening and fire.

Traditionally, holly and ivy go together, and they were once thought of as male and female. The prickly holly with its tough leaves was masculine and represented man. Ivy, a gentler plant, was feminine and represented woman.

When both were used to decorate the house, they would bring a happy family life for the year to come. It was important not to bring them into the house before Christmas Eve or bad luck would follow.

Whichever was brought inside the house first would show whether the husband or wife would rule the household that year. In some places, the men would gather holly to make sure it came into the house before the Ivy.