The Holly Story: Thorns, Berries, and Ancient Meanings
With their glossy, serrated leaves and bright berries, holly (Ilex ssp.) stands out as an iconic ornamental plant. The plant’s fruits and foliage symbolize the winter season and the Christmas holidays. Holly also boasts culinary and medicinal properties; leaves can be used to brew tea, while some traditional medicines use holly berries as purgatives. In this guide, I’ll explore the rich meaning and symbolism of Holly plants, plus share some famous cultural stories and historical myths.
Holly Plant Meaning & Symbolism — Key Takeaways:
- Holly is a Symbol of Protection: Ancient cultures believed that placing holly around the home, especially during winter, would offer protection from evil spirits or lightning.
- Holly Plants Are Associated With Fertility and Life: The red berries of the holly plant symbolize the vitality of life. The plant’s evergreen nature, which retains its leaves throughout the seasons, reinforces this symbolism of enduring life and vitality.
- Holly is Rich in Christian Symbolism: In Christianity, holly is believed to represent the crown of thorns that Jesus wore during his crucifixion, with the red berries symbolizing the drops of blood. As a result, it has become synonymous with Christ’s passion and sacrifice, especially during the Christmas season.
- Holly Plants in Druidic and Pagan Times: Before the adoption of holly into Christian narratives, the Druids in ancient Celtic traditions revered holly for its ability to thrive in winter. They viewed it as a symbol of eternal life and believed it possessed magical properties. During the Winter Solstice, holly was used in celebrations, representing the rebirth of the sun and the promise of brighter days ahead.
Etymological Meaning
The name Ilex comes from the Latin for “holly oak.” Some believe the similar foliage of the holly oak tree (Quercus ilex) resulted in the use of similar terms between the two plant types.
Holly Plant Colors
Depending on plant type, Holly plants may bloom with white, greenish, pink, or yellow flowers. In the language of flowers, holly blossoms may indicate foresight. Historically, holly flowers symbolize defense, thanks to their pointy leaves and domestic happiness.
The Cultural Significance of Holly Plants
In the Christian religious traditions of Europe and North America, the holly plant is often used to represent and decorate for Christmas. This symbolism began long before Christianity, though.
The ancient Romans offered holly to the deity Saturn during the festival of Saturnalia. Many artistic depictions of Saturn include his sacred plant, Holly.
For the Druids of the Celtic religion, holly plants played a symbolic role in marking the winter solstice. Holly’s green, white, and red colors represented protection and luck and hung over the homes’ doorways.
Over time, Christians adopted this tradition and made a few changes. They still hung holly on doors for protection, but now the pointed leaves represented the crown of thorns placed on Christ’s head during the crucifixion. They said the plant’s red berries symbolized drops of blood.
In the English Midlands, a superstition dictates that one should not bring holly into the house until Christmas Eve. In Scandinavia, people refer to holly as “Christ thorn.”
Suitable Gifting Occasions
Holly boughs are often gifted in the winter, especially around Christmas. Their glossy leaves and bright red berries make a perfect addition to bouquets and arrangements for floral gifting and in centerpieces for holiday gatherings at work or home.
Given the meaning and symbolism of Holly plants, it’s also a common decorative element in the home around Christmastime. Wreaths and swags make for festive home decor in the winter and for the holidays.
References in Art and Literature
Holly plants (Ilex spp.) have been widely featured in art and literature throughout history, often symbolizing themes like eternal life, protection, and resilience. Here are some key references:
Medieval Manuscripts
Holly leaves and berries are commonly found in illuminated manuscripts, particularly in borders and marginalia, as symbols of Christ’s crown of thorns and the blood of his sacrifice.
The “Book of Hours” often includes holly in nativity or winter-themed illustrations.
Renaissance Paintings
In Sandro Botticelli’s “The Mystical Nativity” (1500), holly may appear among the vegetation, symbolizing eternal life and the connection to Christ.
Victorian Christmas Cards
Holly became a recurring motif in 19th-century holiday art, often adorning borders or as part of idyllic winter landscapes.
Popular artists like John Callcott Horsley, creator of the first Christmas card in 1843, featured holly prominently.
Pre-Raphaelite Art
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, known for their nature-focused imagery, often incorporated holly in works symbolizing purity and resilience, such as in winter-themed allegories.
Shakespeare
In As You Like It (Act II, Scene VII), the song “Blow, blow, thou winter wind” references holly:
“Heigh-ho! Sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly.”
Here, holly represents resilience against hardship and the bittersweet nature of human relationships.
John Milton
In Paradise Lost (1667), holly imagery reflects the persistence of natural beauty and symbolism of life even in a fallen world.
Robert Frost
In his poem “A Late Walk,” Frost references holly as part of a nostalgic, winter landscape, conveying endurance amidst the seasons’ change.
Victorian Christmas Literature
In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (1843), holly is repeatedly mentioned as a symbol of the holiday season:
“I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A Merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world. Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!” (With holly as a festive backdrop.)
Medieval and Traditional Carols
The carol “The Holly and the Ivy” (first published in 1711 but likely older) uses holly to symbolize the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, contrasting with ivy to represent life and renewal.
J.R.R. Tolkien
Holly appears in The Lord of the Rings as a significant plant in Hollin (Eregion), an elven land. The presence of holly trees signifies protection and sacred space.
Wrapping Up
Holly’s glossy sheen, spiny foliage, and bright berries make this evergreen a popular floral choice in winter. Around Christmastime, Holly’s rich symbolic meaning is the perfect choice to decorate a home and bring a festive atmosphere to any holiday gathering. When grown outside, holly brings year-round color and texture to the landscape and serves as a food source for birds.
Linsay is an American copywriter based in the Pacific Northwest with a background in academic writing and research. Linsay holds Master's degree in both Anthropology and Library and Information Sciences and has written for numerous national and international publications including USA Today, SFGATE, Hunker, and The Bump across an array of topics in the gardening, green living, and travel sectors. When she's not writing, you'll usually find Linsay reading, kayaking, sailing, snowboarding, or working in her garden.