Oh, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer, the playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.
- Holly is generally a slow growing, evergreen or deciduous tree, shrub or climber.
- Holly have fruit called berries or drupe, and are slightly poisonous to humans, but are commonly eaten by birds and other wildlife.
- The colour of the leaves of holly are green, and the fruit are red; brown or black, and more uncommonly, yellow or green.
- ‘Illex’, the proper name for holly, means holm or evergreen oak.
- Holly is mainly found in North and South America and South East Asia.
- At least two species of holly have become extinct quite recently, and many are struggling to survive.
- Some species of holly are used in tea due to their caffeine content, and traditionally the wood of some species was used to make special Scottish bagpipes.
- Holly has been a symbol of Christianity since medieval times, representing the blood and thorns of Jesus Christ.
- Druids wore holly on their heads because they believed it had magical powers.
- There are a lot of superstitions, beliefs and symbolism traditionally associated with holly and as a result, it has become a common, Christmas decoration. It has been used in celebrations for centuries.
Bibliography:
Holly 19 December 2012, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly>
