Christmas Plants

When we think of Christmas, several images spring to mind: beautifully decorated trees, snow covered hills, presents and, of course, the plants we associate with Christmas - holly, ivy and mistletoe. These three are intrinsically tied up in the mythology and imagery of Christmas and there are many creative ways to use them!

The European Holly is an extremely old species. Before the Ice Age, holly covered most of Europe. After the glaciers the plants adapted to the hot dry summers and cold winters. These days it tends to be found more to the north and centre of Europe than the south, but it is still prevalent. It is, however, often protected because of its widespread popularity as a christmas decoration.
That being said, holly is a great plant to create decorations with! Instantly recognisable, when you incorporate holly into your seasonal look, make sure to spray it with fire resistant spray (this will keep it fresh) and place it away from both direct sunlight and direct heat. Check your arrangement daily for signs of brittle leaves or dehydration. Remove the offenders regularly.

We all know about the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe, however its mythology dates much further back than that. In the 1st Cenutry AD, Pliny the Elder (a Roman author, philosopher and historian) wrote about the reverence with which the people of Gaul (France) would treat mistletoe, particularly that which grew on oak trees. They apparently believed that it would be beneficial to sufferers of what we now call insomnia, high blood pressure and certain malignant tumors.

Mistletoe plants are a variety of hemi-parasitic shrub. This means that they grow on other trees/plants and derive much of their sustenance from them. Depending on locale, Mistletoe can be found on Oak (as by the Celts), on Polars, Apple trees and Limes and Hawthorn trees too.

Ivy is representative of paganism, a symbol of fertility. It, like Mistletoe and Holly, is deeply entrenched in folklore and legend, particularly in pre-christian religions. Even in Christian times, Ivy has been used as a decoration in churches at christmas for many centuries and mentioned in traditional carols, like 'The Holly and The Ivy'  and 'Sans Day Carol'.

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