"The holly berry that shines so red
Once was white as wheaten bread."
The Ogham stated the Holly as the balancing power between negative and positive, enabling a new direction. Lost energy could be replenished through the Holly, restoring endeavour towards one's goal.
The well-known prickly leaves bestow winter protection upon this tree, which also offered empathy and understanding, and a connection with goodwill and love, associations with particular Gods and Godesses. We can, therefore, find in history that it was frequently planted as protection, near dwellings, warding off sinister evils, psychic attacks and even demons.
A holly wreath was put upon the head of a Chieftain successor, and Holly branches were carried by Celtic men for good luck. It may have even eased the feelings of jealousy and mistrust, while having the effect of protecting. It was also believed to tame wild creatures, and babies were even bathed in water containing Holly leaves, as a gesture of future protection.
This tree, also known as "Bat's Wings" and "Christ's Thorn" was also seen of as a good luck sign, as an evergreen twin of the Oak in Celtic mythology, and related the term "Kerm-Oak" - with the ruler of light, the Oak, and the darker side of the year, the Holly, which brought the Holly a fitting together with the eternal, ever-green aspects of Mother Earth.
Such life symbols as the ivy and mistletoe, the holly would reside, linked by year-long foliage and winter fruits. Chariot wheels shafts were formely made of Holly wood.
"Holm" is the ancient name for Holly, until Christianity's symbolic Crown of Thorns gave rise to 'Holy Tree'.
The Druids held the Holly is particular sacred regard, and belief says, that to take one leaf into the home on Imbolc, (MidWinter celebration also caled Candlemas), would spell misfortune in the future.
The Saturnalia celebration in Ancient Rome was known for it's gifts of Holly, and it's branches used as Yule decorations.
Indeed, the Holly King is fairly prominent in most peoples minds, highlighted as the Ghost of Christmas Present in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". Traditionally Holly branches should be pulled off and not cut, (Scottish tradition), as cutting and burning of Holly is considered bad luck, though the hanging of a small branch outside the home, for Yule celebrations is lucky, and felt as an assurance against lightning, ensuring good fortune.
[Some Christmas Holly beliefs;
Christmas evergreens represent endurance while the berries represent resurrection of life. Since the 15th century, holly and ivy were essential part of Christmas decorations for church.
If the holly used for Christmas decorations is smooth the wife will be master.
If the holly used for Christmas decorations is prickly the husband is the master.
Prudent couples use both kinds of hollies on Christmas to assure balanced and harmonious home.
Holly was used as a protection against witches and thunder.
Holly leaves were scratched with the initials of the close admirers by the unmarried girls and sown into night clothing or kept under their pillow. It was said that it would bring them dream of their future husband. For this charm to be more effective, a borrowed wedding ring was worn on the third finger of the left hand.
Holly is regarded as a masculine plant and ivy a feminine one, hence, too much ivy is believed to bring bad luck.
A leaf of ivy was left in a bowl of water on Hogmany (New Years Eve) until the eve of Twelfth Night (Little Christmas) on 6th January. If it remained fresh and green a good year was expected. If it withered and had black spots by the end, ill health was prophesized.]
The Druids looked upon the Holly as stoic, showing strength and acting as a protective herb, guardian opposing evil, Elementals, poisons, thunder and lightning...this notion exemplified by the trees spikes, conducting lightning away, harmlessly, bestowing immunity. The holly was also believed to be a favourite of the Sun.
The Holly as magickal herb, granted wisdom and courage, and lore suggests that should a young girl collect 9 leaves from the "she-holly" at midnight on a Friday, and tied them into a 3-cornered handkerchief with 9 knots, she may dream of her future husband upon placing the handkerchief beneath her pillow.
Belief says that if the smooth "she-holly" leaves were brought into the house first during Yule, the wife would rule the following year, but conversely, if the "he-holly" were used, the husband may expect to rule, ( That Holly should be sacred to a God & a Goddess is befitting trees of two sexes. This is an old Germanic tradition regarding the Christmas wreath, made of a "he-holly," and the she-holly laden with berries, therefore was a she-holly), and many beliefs stated that a man possessing Holly leaves or berries upon his person would become more attractive to women!
The Holly, according to one old custom, had pieces of candle upon it's leaves, with the candles then lit, and floated in a tub of water, with everyone making a wish, and should the candle remain alight, the wish may come true.
Pliny suggests that Holly wood thrown toward any animal, would render submission and obedience.
Medicinally, the Holly was used during meditation to calm the mind and body, and thus it had associations with it's beneficial use for those with difficulties in sleeping and to ease the passage of death.
Christian lore teaches us that the Holly miraculously grew leaves during one Winter night, enabling the Holy Family cover to hide from the pursuant soldiers of Herod
The Holly-Oak is associated with the death and rebirth symbolism of winter in both Pagan and Christian lore.
There are well over 150 species of Holly, most of which grow very slowly, though a height of fifty feet can be attained, and is native to central and southern Europe. Spring sees it's white flowers, and the red berries appear in Autumn and can last throughout the Winter. Holly leaves are shiny, dark green, elliptical with shiny points. The berries require a male and female presence, with the female alone producing the berries, and are enamoured with great beauty, albeit poisonous to eat.
Immortality is a feature of the Holly's profile, being an evergreen and was one of the Nine Sacred Woods used in Need-Fires, (Oak, Pine, Hazel, Juniper, Cedar, Poplar, Apple, and Ash being the others). Irish lore listed the Holly alongside the Birch, Alder, Willow, Oak, Hazel and Apple as one of the Noble Trees of the Grove. Deer are fond of Holly leaves, as are sheep in Winter months, the wood of the Holly is hard, compact and appealingly white in appearance, and one used for walking sticks, inlays and riding crops.
The Celtic Tree signs reveal the two characters, that of the "new moon" belonging to the initial two weeks of the sign, (July 8 - August 4), and the "full moon" occupying the last two weeks.
"New Moon" Holly personalities can be frequently seen involved with the dreams of others, in the shape of financial assistance, or emotional support. Unselfish as it appears, it can lead to over-optimism, damaging the self. The "full moon" retains more focus on themself and their own aspirations, perhaps becoming founders of associations, clubs, corporations etc, holding a sense of history, though they may also be prone to hyper-sensitivity regarding personal criticism, needing a hideaway at various times.
Holly individuals will be seen as practical, steadfast, and well-abled to stem the tide of adversity. They are cautious, efficient, logical and offer sound business capability, though assisting as opposed to leading is more commonplace.
Regarding relationships, they are protective, possessive, and also supportive too, seeking perfection, tempting a loss of confidence and direction. A wealth of integrity will be found in a Holly type, with a great influence being found, behind the scenes, but the weak point is high sensitivity to personal criticism, a never-ending need for affection and attention may be too much to deal with in a close relationship.
Holly individuals may keep things close at hand, playing things safe, generating a miserly image, they do, however, overcome hurdles through a fine sense of straightforward logic.
Banking and the world of insurance are natural draws for Holly types, with a strong-will, trustworthy nature, and great pool of physical resolve. Their feet are on the ground, though the inner character reveals a sense of spirituality of some depth, they also make fine collectors, with a keen eye for their field
As a companion, mate, they are abundantly affectionate, but overly-protective, and typically marrying a childhood sweetheart. They are tolerant, supportive, with many close friends, both male and female, but a touch critical of mockery against any individual may be taken as lacking humour, they can be reclusive and usually seek a quiet place of their own, a shelter and refuge against huge responsibilities placed upon their own shoulders.
by lauren6
In Shinto mythology the Japanese holly (I. crenata) held a similar position as that of the holly in Europe. When the Sun-goddess Amaterasu withdrew into her cavern & refused to come out, the erotic clown-goddess Uzume hung a sacred jewel & a sacred mirror in the branches of a holly, & began to dance about the black-fruited holly tree in a humorously sexy manner to attract the attention of Amaterasu & draw her out of the cavern so that Spring would begin. A luck-charm is down to the present day sold in Japan, consisting of a glass ball etched with holly leaves, symbolic of Amaterasu's mirror, jewel, & tree. As an aside, it cannot be coincidental that when Demeter withdrew into hiding & winter fell upon the land, it was a similar Clown-goddess, Baubo, who while dancing in an effort to cheer up Demeter, suddenly mooned the Goddess with her buttocks, on which a face had been painted, winning from Demeter her only laughter of the season.
In another Japanese legend, Prince Yamato, one of the greatest of the doomed heros of history & myth, was said to have done battle with a spear the handle of which was made of holly wood, a symbol of divine authority.
A New Years charm popular in Japan consists of a holly leaf & skewer. This represents the Buddhist monk-god Daikoku. Once when he was about to be attacked by an oni devil, the rat that dwelt with Daikoku as a friendly companion hurried into the garden to fetch the monk a holly branch, bringing it to him in the nick of time, since an oni devil will not go near holly. To this day, there lingers a rustic Japanese tradition of hanging a holly sprig on the door to the house to keep away devils, not at all unlike numerous holly-related beliefs in Europe.
Holly myths occurred everywhere, usually but not exclusively associated with winter. Chinese households were decorated with I. chinensis during February New Years festivals. Even in North America before the coming of the whites, the American Holy (I. opaca) was symbolic of courage & defense. It was encouraged to grow around Indian encampments & homes to protect the tribe, & sprigs of holy would be attached to warshields.
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Colour: white, sky blue and navy blue
Music: Dreamcatcher: I Don't Wanna Lose My Way (ambient mix)
Jürgen Driessen: Help Me (creamy edition)
