Green grows the holly.
So does the ivy.
Though winter's blasts blow never so high,
Green grows the holly.

King Henry VIII Lyrics 1500s

Holly and ivy have been associated with the Christmas season for centuries in one way or another for both practical and symbolic reasons.

People have been decorating their homes with holly and ivy for centuries to celebrate Christmas. In earlier times, the holly served another purpose than decoration - it was thought that it could ward off evil, and bring luck to the household.

From a practical standpoint, holly and ivy have both served as food for livestock during hard winters and have been used for their medicinal properties. Ivy was used to brew ales before the cultivation of hops.

The various parts of the ivy plant have been, and are still, used to treat a variety of ailments including coughs, asthma, burns, bruises and skin rashes. Holly leaf concoctions were used to induce sweating, and for fevers, tonics, smallpox, pleurisy and rhematism.

Since they are both evergreen, they have both come to stand for everlasting life. In the Victorian era, a gift of flowers containing ivy expressed fidelity and symbolized eternity. Holly has long been a symbol of goodwill, peace, health and happiness.

In the middle ages, holly came to represent men, and ivy represented women as these poems from the middle ages describe:

"O the Ivy O, she's the Queen of old,
And the Holly he is red.
Hang 'en high in the farm, and us won't come to no harm
Till the Christmas days be told."

Holver and heivy made a great party,
Who should have the maistry (mastery)
In londes (lands) where they go...
Bright holly usually wins, as in the middle English carol:
Nay! Ivy, nay!
lt shall not be, iwis, (indeed):
Let Holy have the maistry, (mastery)
As the maner is.
Holy stond in the hall
Faire to behold: ivy stond without the dore
She is full sore acold.

Holly also played a central role in Yuletide celebrations, representing the old year. During Yuletide celebrations, the Yule King, who presided over the Yule celebrations, was crowned with holly. The Holly King led the festivities, which celebrated the end of winter and the beginning of the longer and longer days of the year.

A historic Glogg recipe from 1847

26 ounces red wine
13 ounces water
3 cloves
Raisins
Blanched almonds
2- 3 cinnamon sticks
Sugar to tase


Mix the red wine and water, three crushed cloves, a few pieces of cinnamon and some sugar. Heat these for a while before serving, but do not boil.

Glogg is a traditional drink of the Swedish & Finnish Christmas season Glogg is traditionally served in a small glass with a few almonds and raisins in it as well as the drink.