The holidays are here and you are probably seeing many traditional holiday plants for sale at your favorite flower shop and garden center. These may or may not be part of your holiday traditions but knowing a bit about their lore can be something fun to share at holiday gatherings.
The traditional carol “The Holly and the Ivy” mentions two of the evergreen plants associated with the holidays. Ivy, holly and mistletoe were three green plants that brightened the deciduous British forests in winter.
Winter greenery was prized for its beauty and symbolic assurance that spring would come again. Ivy along with holly and mistletoe were the standard holiday decorations for homes and churches before the Christmas tree.
English ivy is a popular houseplant that thrives in a bright location. Purchase or train English ivy into a wreath or tree for the holidays. Or grow it on an obelisk or orb and enjoy its year-round beauty.
Outdoors, English ivy is used as a groundcover or trained on a trellis or home for vertical interest. It is considered invasive in some parts of the United States, so check before adding this plant to your landscape.
The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe started in England in the 19th century. According to mistletoe etiquette, a man should remove a berry each time he kisses a woman. And when the last berry is gone, the kissing is over.
This parasitic plant was believed to have magical powers since it seemed to mysteriously appear in tree canopies and grow without roots. What original observers did not realize is fruit-eating birds deposited seeds in the trees. Once the seeds sprouted, they formed a parasitic relationship with the tree.
Mistletoe hunting is one traditional way this high-hanging plant has been harvested. Hunters take aim and shoot. Unfortunately, some of the mistletoe can be blown to pieces, adding to the challenge of this harvesting technique.
Some cultures believed mistletoe could cure diseases, bestow fertility, and protect homes from ghosts. The Druids used branches of mistletoe to welcome in the New Year and thus the plant became associated with Christmas.
Be sure to hang your mistletoe high or opt for the artificial sprigs as the berries are poisonous to people and pets.
You may be surprised to know Wassailing is another plant-related tradition. In England, people would visit apple orchards caroling along the way. Once there, they would sprinkle cider or liquor over the trees’ roots while chanting to help ensure a good crop the coming year.
