At this time of class , we sing of holly anddecorate with itin our homes . It is firmly tied in our minds to Christmas , but have you ever marvel why ?
The genus that we call “ holly ” is really well over 50 million years quondam . There are most likely some mannequin of holly that died out before we start a record of the ancestors that would give us the plants we live today . There are 400 to 600 species in the Ilex ( holly ) genus . They are in the main moderate and subtropical , but there are specimens almost everywhere in the world . They have similar berries everywhere they grow , though they make out in a variety of colors . Most well known is holly ’s evergreen glossy foliage .
Holly shrubs , vines or small trees are dioecious , meaning they bear male and distaff flowers separately . This makes an individual plant either entirely female or only manful . Perhaps it is this “ separate business firm ” feature of the plant that lend to some of its folklore regarding its use as a decoration in the home . depend on when the leaves are gathered and whether they ’re sharp or smooth is said to speak for whether the human race or the woman will find in the household for the year .
Because holly institute so wide stray across our major planet — and because they are so previous — there are write up about them in almost every culture .
Ilex aquifoliumThe holly species most often picture in association with Christianity and Christmas isIlex aquifolium . Its red berries and evergreen plant foliage are synonymous with holiday cheer . in the first place , the holly was sacred to the papistic god Saturn , and as the Christian population increased in area where he was celebrated around the wintertime solstice , Christians also decorate with holly to protect themselves from persecution . inescapably , as their numbers game grow , Christmas eclipsed the Saturnalia celebration . Holly remained , but its symbolism changed .
In England , a sprig of holly was used to decoratebee hives . This was done because it was believed that thebeeshummed for the Christ child at the first Christmas .
“ At the birth of Christ on Christmaseve , the bees are sound out to shake up intheir hives and seethe a heavy birdsong ofpraise , but one must not disturbthem , for , as they are careful not tointrude upon the celebrations ofmankind , so man must not interferewith their celebration of thebirth of the Christ child”—Encyclopedia of Superstitions , Folklore , and the Occult Sciences of the World ( 1903 )
Ilex paraguariensisYerba mate , orIlex paraguariensis , is the holly most well screw in South America . It ’s perhaps substantially known for the concentration of theobromine ( similar to caffein ) that is found in the Ilex genus . Yerba mate is a well - known tonic and stimulant in the areas where it grows .
I hope this post feel you and yours enjoy in the luminescence of Christmas morning . May the love of your family line and friends ( and piles of discarded wrapping paper ) be all around you . Merry Christmas !
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