Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-13

WV hu; little, in American decorations
at Christmas since both plants are
exceedingly rare here. Eut in England
the use Of tho ivy at least is universal
and the references to ii in Christmas
song and story alone would fill Il small
volume.
Resides it's claim TO appropriate
ness for tn" christmas season which
it holds i'll common with other ever
green's. it has two especially strong
Recommendations OF it's own On &C
count of its habit of clinGing strongly
to its supporting tree or wall. ii IS
a popular symbol OF friendship and
fidelity, and as such, an excellen; deco
ration for the season OF good will and
universal brotherhood. And il was,
in Roman days. sacred 10 Eacchus.
vino. when a baby, was hidden by his
aunt. Ino. aElonc It's leaves. to save
him from Juno's destructive wrath
Prvnne says:
4, christmas -. u do always wv get.
Ard in each corner Of the h"i.S" it st.
But why do they then use tiat f:tC"hHs
weed"
Er,aus.. they mean then Bac"hus-E<e to
feed
This satiriCal explanation was but
too true in the earlier days. when
Christmas lasted for weeks. and was
given over to a revelrv almost wholly
heather in character.
To-day. in America. the Christmas
decorations: almost exclusively are OF
holly. which. for all its popularity. is
less consecratcd by legend than any
other holiday greenery. To be SUR"
We make a sparirg use of the mis'le-
toe. which. from The ancient DruidiCal
meaning of purity given to its wax
white berries, and from its use by
them in the marriage rite. has com"
to give a chartc. for kissing as broad
as the wind" And We have added the
b;itcr.swcct. which has no traditional
sterilization whatever. is not an
CvcrGr"en. and is TO b" tolerated
merely for its beaMty's sake. and for
tho slight suggestion il gives Of the
holy berry.
Our American holly is said 70 b."
less beautiful than The European
Plant having leaves Of dulleT green.
Put. making ell allowances for pos
sibl" disadvantages. il still is re
.narhahlv beautiful tree. And as a
symbol of tho Immortality which i; is
tn" seasons special mission 10 teach,
it surely has no rival. TIE leaves TO
main on tae branches for three years.
losing their hold only when tntv are
pushed of at last by the growing buds
Of spring.
Throuchcut England so H't!e IS its
supremacy disputed. that il is opuia--
il known as "Christ'n"S. jus; as IN"
hawthorn Is called The MAY.
It's name has h"cn Il matte ~ con
sidorabI" in'crcsr Throrhrastus and
other Greek authors named tho r!?2t
ACr!a: that *. wild or Of the fields.
The Ro.AauS formed from this III"
word AcrifOiinjn and called il also
Auuifo!ium. from artum. sharp. an.
foliua1. 4 leaf. Banhin and l.Cnr"!ro
first named it Ilcx. from the r'sCmh-
lance ~ it's leaves 10 those 81 n"
0r"TCuS Hex. p species OF oak which
vas tho true Hex nf Virgil Iinnaeus
adopted the nam" Ii"X for IN" C"nIs.
and preserved the name AqT!trli1"N
for =" most aUci"n;ly known spec ;"S.
Our popular name. holly. probably
is a corruption Of tn" word holy. as
Turner in his hc-kaI calls II holy and
holy tree. Tho thorny foliage. and
tic berries like drops Of briEhi blood.
could scarcely fai! ~ remind a Ch-1s
tan vi the Gown Of ihornS. and This.
together will! tho universal use q: IN"
r.ant in tho churches a; Christmas
easily would account for tho Gam"
IN Germany il is known a. Cats;
dorm. Phc Danish Rsmc is ChTisinTn
ard ihc Swedish ChrisiioTn TT"
Sane name. Ch,ists horn. il found in
some uarts Of ENGLAND Rut as NO
lccond connects the holly with tn
crown o. ihorrs. 'his naa'". uciyers'!
af1rrC IN" Gcrmanir peoples -must h"
rlcrrl, rhc rcsul' of its aTp"araac"
and of it, Christmas Popuisri'! a.
before suggested