Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1908-12-18

ivy but little. in American decorations
at Christmas. since both plants arc
exceedingly rare here. Rnt in England
the use Of the ivy at least is universal,
and the references to 1t in Christmas
song and story alone would fill a small
volume
BESIDES its claim to appropriate
ness for the Christmas season which
it holds in common with other ever
greens. 1t has two especially strong
recommendations of its own. On ac-
coun, of its habit of clinging strongly
to its supporting tree or wall, 1t Is
a popular symbol of friendship and
fidelity, and as such. an excellent deco
ration for the season of good will and
universal brotherhood. And 1t was,
in Roman days. sacred to BacchuS.
who. when a baby was hidden by his
aunt, Ino. among its leaves, to save
him from .Junos destructive wrath.
Prynne says:
At Christmas men do always Ivy get.
And in each corner of the hous" 1t set
But why d" they then us" that Barrhus
Because they mean then EaCchuS-like to
feed
This satirical explanation was but
too true in the earlier days, when
Christmas lasted for weeks. and was
given over to a rrvclry almost wholly
heather in character.
To-day. in America. the Christmas
decorations almost exclusively are OF
holly. which, for all its popularity, is
less COnsocratcd by legend than any
other holiday grccnery. TO be sure
we make a starring use Of the mistle
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 come
to give a charter for kissing as "broaL
rs the wind And We have added the
bitterswcct, which has no traditional
signiication whatever, is not al
evergreen, and is to be tolerated
merely for it's heauty's sake. and fol
the slight suggestion it gives of the
holly berry.
Our American holly is said to be
less beautiful than the European
plant. having leaves of Il duller green
But, making all allowances for pos
siblc disadvantages. II still is a re
markably beautiful tree. And as 81
symbol of the immortality which it is
the seasons special mission to teach
it surely has no rival. The leaves re
main on the branches for three years
l.,,;, 1,>1, ,hf,,,
pushed off at last by the growing buds
Of spring.
ThrOuchOut England, so little is its
supremacy disputed. that it is popular
ly known as "Ch islnas.' just as The
hawthorn Is called "Thc May
lis name has been a matter Of con
siderable interest. Thcophrastus anC
other Greek authors named the plant
Agria: that is, wild. or Of the fields
The Romans formed from this tho
word Agrfolium and called it also
A0uifolium. from actum, sharp, ar.'
folium, a leaf. Bauhin and LOurerc
first named it Hex, from the resemb
lance of its leaves to those OF the
Qucrcus Hex. a specie; Of oak which
was the true Hex of Virgil. Linnaeu2
adopted the name Hex for the genus
and preserved the name Aquifolium
for the most anciently known species.
Our popular name, holly, probably
is a corruption of the word holy, as
Turner in his herbal calls it holy, anC
holy tree The thorny foliage, ano
the berries like drops of bright blood
could scarcely fail to remind Chris
tan of the crown of thorns, and this
together with the universal use of the
plant in the churches at Christmas
easily would account for the name.
In Germany it is known as Christ
dorm. The Danish name is Christorr
and the Swedish Christtorn. The
same name, Christ's thorn is found ir
some parts of England. But as ne
legend connects the holly with the
crown of thorns, this name, universal
among the Germanic peoples, must bt
merely the result of it's appearance
and of it's Christmas popularity, al
before suggested.