The Christmas season has many customs and I must say I enjoy them all, the use of berries as holiday decor is one of them. Out of the many, one of them has always been referred to as the true Christmas Berry. I guess it is time we look into its history and importance and how this berry is used in Christmas celebrations.

The Holly - A Christmas essential. The Heart of Decorating – The Christmas Berry.

Coming to the Christmas period, most of us would think of the holly berry with all its red colors and its rough appearance combined with green color leaves. The Ilex aquifolium, or the holly plant as it is commonly called, is a shrub that grows in cold winters, when many other plants are sleeping. It is very resilient and grows fast, a perfect attribute that perfectly describes Christmas which is all about living and growing.

The Chemistry behind the story - on the importance of it being a national treasure

Holly is said to have existed in various myths and cultures since the start of time. In fact, before Christmas, people believed that the celts and druids worshiped this berry as a holy relic, for protection, and to fight against death. In fact, they believed that it protected them from the evil eye.

Holly's symbolism became part of Christmas themes of celebration with the spread of Christianity. Well, the red berries were said to symbolize the holy blood of Christ and the thorns were a reminder of the crown of thorns that was placed on His head. Its continued existence on the Christmas decoration stems from those historical and religious past.

Contemporary Application in the Decoration of Holidays

Holly wreaths, holly garlands, fortunately, handhol dusters, and center pieces replace the tree trimmings. The decor includes a range of colors that compliments the winter season, thus it is common to find people using it regardless of what their theme of celebration is, which includes a christmas wonderland.

The holly berry feature in most of the christmas cards, wrapping papers, and ornaments that are crafted to put across the feelings associated with the season. Whether on a mantle piece or on a wreath, holly berries are nostalgic and remind everyone of season’s joy.

Toxicity of Holly Berries: A Cause for Concern

Hollies add beauty to designs but are toxic when eaten and as such can be an issue when designs are created by wrapping the berries around the hollies as it can be dangerous to children and animals

Conclusion The Timeless Appeal of Holly Berries

This is the final part of the holly berry chapter and it is really special for those of us who love Christmas. The fact that holly berries are still widely used to decorate homes during festivities demonstrates that they have become an emblem of the Christmas spirit. From our ancestors until this day modern society, holly has much more than just historical representation it has deep emotional ties to the magic of the season.