I walk by a house with a large holly bush loaded with berries. Is there anything more Christmasy? Really put me in the spirit. If it wasn’t for those darned pointed edges on the leaves, it would probably be my favorite shrub. Of course, holly wreaths are very popular at this time of year. I do admire those people who can take fresh flowers and/or holly and make arrangements or wreaths out of them. It takes someone with a lot of imagination and dexterity. And I have always envied women with the name Holly. It just sounds so fresh and beautiful. There is nothing like the image of new snow on a holly bush. My sister has a friend named Holly, and she lives up to her name with a bright personality — always has a positive attitude and is able to find joy in small things. I am grateful for the bright colors of holly; the emerald green leaves and ruby red berries provide such a contrast. Let’s learn more about it.
According to Wikipedia, Ilex or holly is a genus of about 480 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. The species are evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide. The type species is Ilex aquifolium, the common European holly used in Christmas decorations and cards.
Description
The genus Ilex includes about 480 species, divided into three subgenera:
- Ilex subg. Byronia, with the type species Ilex polypyrena
- Ilex subg. Prinos, with 12 species
- Ilex subg. Ilex, with the rest of the species
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The genus is widespread throughout the temperate and subtropical regions of the world. It includes species of trees, shrubs and climbers, with evergreen or deciduous foliage and inconspicuous flowers. Its range was more extended in the Tertiary period, and many species are adapted to laurel forest habitats. It occurs from sea level to more than 6,600 feet with high mountain species. It is a genus of small, evergreen trees with smooth, glabrous or pubescent branchlets. The plants are generally slow-growing with some species growing to 82 feet tall. The type species is the European holly Ilex aquifolium described by Linnaeus.
Plants in this genus have simple, alternate glossy leaves, frequently with a spiny leaf margin. The inconspicuous flower is greenish white, with four petals. They are generally dioecious, with male and female flowers on different plants.
The small fruits of Ilex, although often referred to as berries, are technically drupes or stone fruits. They range in color from red to brown to black, and rarely green or yellow. The "bones" contain up to ten seeds each. Some species produce fruits parthenogenetically, such as the cultivar Nellie R. Stevens. The fruits ripen in winter and thus provide winter color contrast between the bright red of the fruits and the glossy green evergreen leaves. Hence the cut branches, especially of I. aquifolium, are widely used in Christmas decoration. The fruits are generally slightly toxic to humans and can cause vomiting and diarrhea when ingested. However, they are an important food source for birds and other animals, which help disperse the seeds. Unfortunately, this can have negative impacts as well. Along the west coast of North America, from California to British Columbia, English holly — which is grown commercially — is quickly spreading into native forest habitat, where it thrives in shade and crowds out native species. It has been placed on the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board's monitor list and is a Class C invasive plant in Portland.
History
Dioecy is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct male and female individual organisms. Dioecious reproduction is biparental reproduction. Dioecious hollies are shown in the photo to the right. The large photo shows a shoot with flowers from a male plant. The top right corner photo is a male flower enlarged from a female plant. The lower right corner photo is a female flower enlarged, showing stamen and reduced, sterile stamens with no pollen.
The phylogeography of this group provides examples of various speciation mechanisms at work. In this scenario, ancestors of this group became isolated from the remaining Ilex when the Earth mass broke away into Gondwana and Laurasia about 82 million years ago, resulting in a physical separation of the groups and beginning a process of change to adapt to new conditions. This mechanism is called allopatric speciation. Over time, survivor species of the holly genus adapted to different ecological niches. This led to reproductive isolation, an example of ecological speciation. In the Pliocene, around five million years ago, mountain formation diversified the landscape and provided new opportunities for speciation within the genus.
The fossil record indicates that the Ilex lineage was already widespread prior to the end of the Cretaceous period. Based on the molecular clock, the common ancestor of most of the extant species probably appeared during the Eocene, about 50 million years ago, suggesting that older representatives of the genus belong to now extinct branches. The laurel forest covered great areas of the Earth during the Paleogene, when the genus was more prosperous. This type of forest extended during the Neogene, more than 20 million years ago. Most of the last remaining temperate broadleaf evergreen forests are believed to have disappeared about 10,000 years ago at the end of the Pleistocene. Many of the then-existing species with the strictest ecological requirements became extinct because they could not cross the barriers imposed by the geography, but others found refuge as a species relict in coastal enclaves, archipelagos and coastal mountains sufficiently far from areas of extreme cold and aridity and protected by the oceanic influence.
Range
The genus is distributed throughout the world's different climates. Most species make their home in the tropics and subtropics, with a worldwide distribution in temperate zones. The greatest diversity of species is found in the Americas and in Southeast Asia.
Ilex mucronate, mountain holly or catberry — formerly the type species Nemopanthus — is native to eastern North America, from Newfoundland west to Minnesota, and south to Maryland and West Virginia. Nemopanthus was treated as a separate genus with eight species of the family Aquifoliaceae, now transferred to Ilex on molecular data; it is closely related to Ilex amelanchier, the swamp or sarvis holly from the southeastern United States.
In Europe the genus is represented by a single species, the classically named holly Ilex aquifolium, and in continental Africa by this species and Ilex mitis, commonly called Cape holly, African holly, waterboom or umDuma. Ilex canariensis, the small-leaved holly from Macronesia, and Ilex aquifolium arose from a common ancestor in the laurel forests of the Mediterranean. Australia, isolated at an early period, has Ilex arnhemensis. Of 204 species growing in China, 149 species are endemic. A species which stands out for its economic importance in Spanish-speaking countries and in Brazil is Ilex paraguariensis or Yerba mate. Having evolved numerous species that are endemic to islands and small mountain ranges, and being highly useful plants, many hollies are now becoming rare.
Ecology
Often the tropical species are especially threatened by habitat destruction and overexploitation. At least two species of Ilex have become extinct recently, and many others are barely surviving.
They are extremely important food for numerous species of birds, and also are eaten by other wild animals. In the autumn and early winter, the fruits are hard and apparently unpalatable. After being frozen or frosted several times, the fruits soften, and become milder in taste. During winter storms, birds often take refuge in hollies, which provide shelter, protection from predators by the spiny leaves and food. The flowers are sometimes eaten by the larva of the double-striped pug moth. Other Lepidoptera whose larvae feed on holly include Bucculatrix ilecella — which feeds exclusively on hollies — and the engrailed moth.
Toxicity
Holly can contain caffeic acid, caffeoyl derivatives, caffeoylshikimic acid, chlorogenic acid, feruloylquinic acid, querceti, quinic acid, kaempferol, tannins, rutin, caffeine and theobromine.
Holly berries can cause vomiting and diarrhea. They are especially dangerous in cases involving accidental consumption by children attracted to the bright red berries. Ingestion of over 20 berries may be fatal to children.
Holly leaves, if eaten, might cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach and intestinal problems.
Holly plants might be toxic to pets and livestock.
Culinary use
Leaves of some holly species are used by some cultures to make daily tea. These species are Yerba mate or Ilex paraguariensis, Ilex guayusa, Kuding or Ilex kaushue, Yaupon or Ilex vomitoria and others. Leaves of other species, such as gallberry or Ilex glabra are bitter and emetic. In general, little is known about inter-species variation in constituents or toxicity of hollies.
Ornamental use
Many of the holly species are widely used as ornamental plants in temperate/European gardens and parks, notably:
- Ilex aquifolium or common holly, English holly, European holly.
- Ilex crenata or Japanese holly or box- leaved holly.
- Ilex verticillate or winterberry.
Moreover, many hundreds of hybrids and cultivars have been developed for garden use, among them the very popular "Highclere holly" and the "blue holly. The cultivars Blue Prince = ‘Conablu’ and Blue Princess = 'Conapri' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Hollies are often used for hedges; the spiny leaves make them difficult to penetrate, and they take well to pruning and shaping.
Culture
Holly – more specifically the European holly – is commonly referenced at Christmas time, and is often referred to by the name Christ’s thorn. In many Western Christian cultures, holly is a traditional Christmas decoration, used especially in wreaths and illustrations, for instance on Christmas cards. Since medieval times the plant has carried a Christian symbolism, as expressed in the traditional Christmas carol "The Holly and the Ivy," in which the holly represents Jesus and the ivy represents the Virgin Mary. Angie Mostellar discusses the Christian use of holly at Christmas, stating that:
Christians have identified a wealth of symbolism in its form. The sharpness of the leaves help to recall the crown ofthorns worn by Jesus; the red berries serve as a reminder of the drops of blood that were shed for salvation; and the shape of the leaves, which resemble flames, can serve to reveal God's burning love for His people. Combined with the fact that holly maintains its bright colors during the Christmas season, it naturally came to be associated with the Christian holiday.
In heraldry, holly is used to symbolize truth. The Norwegian municipality of Stord has a yellow twig of holly in its coat-of-arms.
The Druids held that "leaves of holly offered protection against evil spirits" and thus "wore holly in their hair."
In the “Harry Potter” novels, holly is used as the wood in Harry’s wand.
In some traditions of Wicca, the Holly King is one of the faces of the Sun God. He is born at midsummer and rules from Mabon to Ostara.
The Holly and the Ivy Christmas carol
"The Holly and the Ivy" is a traditional British folk Christmas carol, listed as number 514 in the Roud Folk Song Index. The song can be traced only as far as the early 19th century, but the lyrics reflect an association between holly and Christmas dating at least as far as medieval times. The lyrics and melody varied significantly in traditional communities, but the song has since become standardized. The version which is now popular was collected in 1909 by the English folk song collector Cecil Sharp in the market town of Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire, England, from a woman named Mary Clayton.
The following are taken from Sharp's “English Folk-Carols” in 1911, the publication that first established the current words and melody:
1
The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all the trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
2
The holly bears a blossom, As white as the lily flower, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, To be our sweet Saviour. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
3
The holly bears a berry, As red as any blood, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ For to do us sinners good. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
4
The holly bears a prickle, As sharp as any thorn, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ On Christmas Day in the morn. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
5
The holly bears a bark, As bitter as any gall, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ For to redeem us all. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
6
The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all the trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown. The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
The words of the carol occur in three broadsides — single sheet of inexpensive paper printed on one side, often with a ballad, rhyme, news and sometimes with woodcut illustrations — published in Birmingham, England in the early 19th century.
An early mention of the carol's title occurs in William Hone's 1823 work “Ancient Mysteries Described,” which includes "The holly and the ivy, now are both well grown" among an alphabetical list of "Christmas Carols, now annually printed" that were in the author's possession.
The complete words of the carol are found in a book review dating from 1849, in which the reviewer suggested using the text of "The Holly and the Ivy" in place of one of the readings found in the book under discussion. The anonymous reviewer introduced the lyrics of carol thus:
Instead of passages from Bernard Barton, however, and Mary Howitt, we think we could have gathered more from the seventeenth century poets; and especially might larger use have been made of that touchingly simple class of religious ballads, which under the name of carols, &c., is so rife throughout the rural districts, and the humbler quarters of England's great towns. Many of these are only orally preserved, but with a little trouble a large number might be recovered. We have before us at this time a collection of carols printed in the cheapest form, at Birmingham, uniting for the most part extreme simplicity, with distinct doctrinal teaching, a combination which constitutes the excellence of a popular religious literature. From this little volume we will extract one which might well take the place of the passage from Milton for Christmas Day. It is called the "Holly and the Ivy."
The words of the carol were included in Sylvester's 1861 collection “A Garland of Christmas Carols” where it is claimed to originate from "an old broadside, printed a century and a half since" [i.e. around 1711]. Husk's 1864 “Songs of the Nativity” also includes the carol.
Holly and ivy have been a mainstay of British Advent and Christmas decorations for church use since at least the 15th and 16th centuries, when they were mentioned regularly in church wardens’ accounts.
Holly and ivy figure in the lyrics of the "Sans Day Carol.” The music was first published by Cecil Sharp. Sir Henry Walford Davies wrote a popular choral arrangement that is often performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols and by choirs around the world. Henry VIII wrote a love song “Green Groweth the Holly” which alludes to holly and ivy resisting winter blasts and not changing their green hue: “So I am and ever hath been Unto my lady true.”
The Holly and the Ivy film
“The Holly and the Ivy” is a 1952 British drama film adapted from the play of the same name by Wynyard Browne. It was directed by George More O’Ferrall, produced by Anatole de Grunwald and co-scripted by Browne and de Grunwald. It is about an Irish clergyman whose neglect of his grown offspring, in his zeal to tend to his parishioners, comes to the surface at a Christmas family gathering. Ralph Richardson, Celia Johnson and Margaret Leighton star, while Margaret Halstan and Maureen Delany reprised their roles from the stage. It had its U.S release in 1954.
Holly & Ivy Christmas album
“Holly & Ivy” is a 1994 Christmas album and 16th overall studio album by American singer Natalie Cole. Released on October 4, 1994 by Elektra, it is Cole's first album featuring Christmas music and serves as a follow-up to “Take a Look” in 1993. Cole co-produced the album with American music producer Tommy LiPuma, with whom she had worked on “Unforgettable… with Love” in 1991. “Holly & Ivy” consists of 12 tracks, including 11 covers of Christmas standards and carols and one original song written by Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser. Cole promoted the album as non-traditional in interviews and live performances.
Upon release, critics gave generally positive reviews for “Holly & Ivy,” praising its composition and Cole's interpretations of the covered material. The album was certified gold by Recording Industry Association of America on March 20, 1996 for 500,000 sales shipments; it peaked at number 36 on the Billboard 200 chart. “Holly & Ivy” spawned one single "No More Blue Christmas." In support of the album, Cole filmed a television special, "Natalie Cole's Untraditional Traditional Christmas," at State University of New York Performing Arts Center in Purchase, New York; it premiered on WNET on December 7, 1994.
In an interview with Clarence Waldron from Jet magazine, Natalie Cole said the idea of recording a Christmas album started from a telephone call from producer and longtime friend Michael Masser. Cole had previously worked with him on the song "Someone That I Used to Love" from her 1980 album “Don’t Look Back” and her 1989 single "Miss You Like Crazy." She described the telephone call as unexpected; during their conversation, Masser told her: "I've got this beautiful Christmas song I wrote just for you." When they met, he played "No More Blue Christmas;" after the session, they both agreed to record a Christmas album. Cole expressed hope that the album would remind her fans about "the true spirit of the holiday season." She wanted it to communicate Christmas as "a time for families to reflect and not just wait until the holidays to be a family." Cole's sister Timolin Cole said: "Christmas Eve has always been a magical time with Natalie" when she could connect with family over holiday traditions.
One of the primary inspirations for “Holly & Ivy” came from her father’s album “The Magic of Christmas” in 1960. Cole called it one of "the nicest, warmest Christmas albums that I've heard," and described the original version of the 1945 track “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” as "a darling, sweet song" that has yet to be imitated by other original Christmas songs. In an interview with NPR, Cole said that: "it took 15 years into [her] career before [she] felt comfortable and confident enough to even attempt at singing my father's music." “Holly & Ivy” includes three cover version of Nat King Cole's songs: "Caroling, Caroling," "The First Noel” and "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)". They were each recorded as a tribute to him. Waldron said the album was "keeping the holiday spirit in the family." Cole would later re-record "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" as a posthumous duet with her father on her 1999 Christmas album “The Magic of Christmas.”
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