The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-12-15

ivy but little, in American decorations
at Christmas, since both plants arO
exceedingly rare here. But in England
the use of the ivy at least Is universal,
and the references to it 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-
count of its habit Of clinging strongly
to its supporting tree or wall, it 10
a popular symbol of friendship and
fidelity, and as such, al excellent deco
ration for the season Of good will and
universal brotherhood. And it was,
in Roman days, sacred to Bacchus,
who, when a baby, was hidden by his
aunt, 1nO, among its leaves, to save
him from Juno's destructive wrath.
Prynne says:
At Christmas men DO always Ivy get.
And in each corner of the house it set:
But why do they then use that BacchuS
weed?
Because they mean then Bacchus-nke to
feed.
This satirical explanation was but
too true in the earlier days, when
Christmas lasted for weeks, and was
given over to a revelry almost wholly
heather in character.
To-day, in America, the Christmas
decorations almost exclusively are II
holly, which, for all its popularity, IL
less consecrated by legend than any
other holiday greenery. To be sure
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 q charter for kissing as broad
rs the wind" And we have added the
bitter-sweet, which has no traditional
Specification whatever, is not an
evergreen, and IL to be tolerated
merely for its beauty's sake, and for
the slight suggestion 1t gives of the
holly berry.
Our American holly is said to be
less beautiful than the European
plant, having leaves Of a duller green.
But, making all allowances for pos
sible disadvantages, it still is a re-
markedly beautiful tree. And as .
symbol Of the immortality which it il
the seasons special mission to teach.
1t surely has no rival. The leaves 70
main on the branches for three years,
losing their hold only when they are
pushed off at last by the growing buds
Of spring.
Throughout England, 80 little is it,
supremacy disputed, that 1t is popular
ly known as "Christmas," just as the
hawthorn is called The May"
Its name has been a matter Of con-
siderable interest. Theophrastus and
other Greek authors named the plant
Agria; that is, wild, or Of the fields.
The Romans formed from this the
word Agrifolium and called 1t also
Aquifolium. from actum, sharp. and
a leaf. Bauhin and Loureiro
- hoAiSu iICA, lIoul Tie IcSeIlU-
lance of its leaves to those of the
Quercus Hex, a species of oak which
was the true Hex of Virgil. Linnaeus
adopted the name Hex for the genus,
and preserved the name Aquifolium
the most anciently known species.
Our popular name, holly, probably
IL q corruption of the word holy. as
in his herbal calls it holy, and
holy tree. The thorny foliage, and
the berries like drops of bright blood,
could scarcely fail to remind a Chris.
tian 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 1t is known as Christ
dorm. The Danish name is Christorn
and the Swedish Christtorn. The
name, Christ's thorn, is found In
parts of England. But as no
legend connects the holly with the
OF thorns, this name. universal
among the Germanic peoples, must be
merely the result of its appearance
and Of its Christmas popularity. AZ
before suggested.