The Ivy in The Holly and the Ivy:
The World Encyclopedia of CHRISTMAS* seems to have the most entertaining history of ivy. Apparently in ancient Rome, ivy was a symbol of wine and merriment. It was worn as an antidote to drunkenness but was adopted by Christians as a symbol of human weakness and the need to cling to "divine strength."
In England the ivy vine is used along with holly to decorate churches at Christmas time.
In Scotland young women would hold a sprig of holly to their hearts, chanting,
"Ivy, Ivy, I love you;/ In my bosom I put you,/ The first young man who speaks to me/ My future husband shall be." [Amazing the trust placed in a sprig of ivy!]
*McClelland & Stewart Ltd., 2000.
Tomorrow: A fascinating custom determining whether or not a man was extended the well-known privilege of the mistletoe.
The World Encyclopedia of CHRISTMAS* seems to have the most entertaining history of ivy. Apparently in ancient Rome, ivy was a symbol of wine and merriment. It was worn as an antidote to drunkenness but was adopted by Christians as a symbol of human weakness and the need to cling to "divine strength."
In England the ivy vine is used along with holly to decorate churches at Christmas time.
In Scotland young women would hold a sprig of holly to their hearts, chanting,
"Ivy, Ivy, I love you;/ In my bosom I put you,/ The first young man who speaks to me/ My future husband shall be." [Amazing the trust placed in a sprig of ivy!]
*McClelland & Stewart Ltd., 2000.
Tomorrow: A fascinating custom determining whether or not a man was extended the well-known privilege of the mistletoe.
