The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-12-24
Christmas Greens.

give me the mistletoe whose magic presehc
creates brighter roses than ever were wooe'
by the nightingale, whose fairy touch make
thousands of our merry maidens glow witt
laughter, when many youthful cheek
red, by lips and voices hither led, ant
Autterinc fancies come and 90 beneath tn
Christmas mistletoe. This strange plan
is gypsy, wandering from tree to tree
having no settled home-nO genuine, well
grounded roots.
The generous oaks give it restln:
place. and many another common shru'
delights in entertaining such an arlstocrat
The poplar, hawthorn, pear and apple
meekly hide their own leaves and bear aiof
its shining white berries like royal decora
tons Traditions older than written recort
tells how it flourished in the Garden d
the Gods. and won kisses for the goddesse:
on high Olympus when Jove, with IN.
extinguishable laughter, 'trolicked like
an immortal youth. AIT has preserved
the mstletoe in thousand pictures, and
literature enshrined it in poetry and prose.
Who can forget that dear old ballad that
always drew tears from our childish eyes
that sad story of 1.-The Mistletoe Bough?
Who can forget the Christmas party at
DINGHY Dell, when Mr.. Pickwick was
caught by accident under the mistletoe and,
in spite of his groans and bushes, kissed
soundly by every female on the premises,
not forgetting the fascinating girl with
black eyes and fur, tipped boots?
Who is not made happier and better by
the memory of the gentle Milly and her
mistletoe motto, "Lord keep my memory
green?
All over the land in the dark winter days
there is mighty hunting and busting and
choosing; lads and lasses seeking, amid dry
leaves and dead boughs, this plant so dear
to mankind. Well may they desire Its
presence, for It's shining green leaves and
snowy, waxlike berries would make bright
SPOT in the barest room Hanging up the
mistletoe at Christmas is Il custom old as
time itself, and the girls Of today are but
following the example of their sisters VIII"
frolicked thus centuries ago.
Those who live in crowded cities miss
many simple pleasures, and pass by unnum
bered pretty things that are hidden in the
winter woods OF course the golden au-
tumn leaves are gone, and in December we
see no flowers; but in old fence corners the
scarlet sumac still hides, and many red
rose hip peeps out from tangled vines
Under the dead and matted leaves of the
oak are acorns-large and beautitul-set
in clusters of twos and threes, with shallow
cups of fuzzy gray and mixed with ever,
green's They make admirable Christmas
decorations. In our western country there
are but few of the traditional plants and
trees given by custom and tradition to holi-
day uses. In the far North are murmur-
inc pines and hemlock, but we must 90 tC
the South Atlantic coast for holly and mis-
tletoe, the two most celebrated among
Christmas greens.
Perhaps the holly stands first, and Its
mon people. Its old English name was
''holm'' or ''holm oak and it was the
"Merry Greenwood Tree of Shakespeare
and Robin Hood. Away back in the days
of the Druids, this plant was the emblem
of immortality, and the people decked theil
homes with its green leaves to tempt the
sylvan deities to come and dwell within
their walls through the dark winter days
England is the true home of this lovely
shrub. There it grows in stout hedges.
often twenty feet in height, thick in pro,
portion. and able to defy the strength OF
man and beast. Near Melrose Abbey
there is a holly tree that overtopped all its
woodland neighbors, and was told Of other,
that were as large again. And near Lon
don the holly hedges are marvels of lux
uriant beauty, and at Christmas their rec
berries glow in every home, from the Buck
ingham Palace to the poorest cottage.
The laurel is another Christmas green
celebrated in song and story. In my
thology we read of it as Apollo's chosen
plant, and dedicated to poetry and music
1t was the symbol of victory both in peac,
and war, and heroes were crowned witt
laurel leaves. Favorite singers wore gar
lands Of the shining green, and from tina
custom we have our Poet Laureate
There is no plant more celebrated in folk
lore; it was a charm against danger ant
sudden death, was used on all great occas
ions such as weddings and coronations, ant
in sacrifices to the gods.
The rosemary is another Christmas plan
not found as an evergreen in this country
but in the old world, special favorite
Its delicate color and peculiar odor make i
acceptable. 1t is devoted to brides, ant
in folk lore causes a renewal Of love, anG
strengthens the memory of absent friends
Who can forget poor hapless Ophelia anc
her plaintive cry, There's Rosemary
that s for remembrance pray you, love
remember
The ivy is world renowned Christina
green. We do not have it in such beaut,
and luxuriance in this country. Our COLI
winters and hot summers are death to it
rich green, so changeless and vivid. 1t il
the great pride of England, and no ont
who has seen her ivy-mantled ruins ant
towers of living emerald can ever forget thu
glorious spectacle. In folklore it wa
sacred to the muses. and they were wont t.
bind it on their deathless brows and twin
it around their affairs. Poets were crowne,
with ivy leaves and songs were composed
in its honor. GA rare old plant is the iv,
green" it is an emblem of charity, for
clings to old ruins, covers up all defects
and bids us ''Hope on, hope ever
These are the traditional Christina
greens, without which all our decoration
were of no value. Fill your vases wit
flowers, bring in evergreens from wood an
field, the treasures of your dollhouse, an
florists store, but do not forget these oil
time favorites that have been for centurie
associated with the holiday season an
devoted to the Merry Christmas and tn
Happy New Year.