Holly (Post 12 Part 1)
'Boughs of Holly'
There is more to Holly than you might think!
First, what is holly? Holly is a widely distributed shrub or tree, with prickly dark green leaves, small white flowers, and red berries. The evergreen hollies are more typical and familiar as the branches are used as Christmas decorations.
Holly is also known by other names like…. Evergreen oak, Holy Tree, Winterberry, Bats wings, Christ's Thorn and more.
Why is it used in Christmas decorations though? Well, if you are looking to decorate in December with greenery your choices are pretty limited. However, holly has always been associated with mid-winter festivals and was used in old Celtic traditions for celebrating the sun god's re-birth at the Winter Solstice.
The Druids believed holly had mystical powers. They held the belief that "leaves of holly offered protection against evil spirits" and thus wore holly in their hair. They used branches of holly to decorate Roman temples during the winter festival of Saturnalia. The earliest Roman Christians continued to use holly as a decoration during the Christmas season.
Historically, pagans believed that like evergreens, holly wards off evil spirits. They also believed that holly increased fertility. In addition to bringing in holly boughs to decorate the home and increase fertility, holly was also often planted outdoors around the house to keep out evil spirits.
Holly water (holly infused) was sprinkled on the heads of newborns to offer protection. And is still used today in the Wicca practice. Interesting! Doesn't that sound familiar?!
We can see that 'Holly' has its pagan roots and that it was also Christianized as many Christmas traditions are. Christians made up a legend to support using holly. They say holly is symbolic of Jesus because it's red berries where once white, but after Jesus' death they turned red to represent His blood and have stayed red forever. They also nicknamed the scrub 'Christ's Thorn' to symbolize the crown of thorns on His head.
Witches past and present, believe in the magical properties of holly. They believe that their consecration and spells will bring about, material gain, success, beauty, balance, protection, luck and even physical revenge.
Well, maybe the name 'Hollywood' is more fitting now, when we understand the spiritual use of the word 'holly'. If you think that's a far stretch I have an extra fact for you....
Did you know that in the Harry Potter movies, holly is used as the wood in Harry's wand. Because this is what is believed...."Holly wood makes very good wands which can be used to banish unwanted entities, and command evoked spirits". (Witchipedia)
So you see, Holly was not just for decorating. The early church (Puritans) understood this and were not fooled, neither should we be. Yes the Holly tree/shrub is beautiful, and the Father created it. However, we are not to take things that were used to worship other gods and turn around and use them to worship the Heavenly Father. He told us not to do it, He said these things are vain. Jer 10:2 2 Cor 6:171 Thess 5:22
Much love!
