The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1908-12-12

ivy but little, In American decoration
at Christmas, since both plants ere
exceedingly rare here. But in England
the use of the ivy at least Is universal,
and the references to 1t in Christmas
song and story alone would fill small!
volume.
Besides its claim to appropriate
ness for the Christmas season which
it holds in common with other ever
greens, it has two especially strong
recommendations Of its own. On &C.
count of its habit Of clinging strongly
to it's supporting tree or wall, 1t 10
a popular symbol of friendship and
fidelity, and as such, an 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, Inc, 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 1t set;
But why do they then use that Bacchus
weed?
Because they mean then Bacchus-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 revelry almostswholly
heather in character.
To-day, in America, the Christmas
decorations almost exclusively are OF
holly, which, for all its popularity. ID
less consecrated by legend than any
other holiday greenery. To be sure
we make a sparing use of the mistle
toe, which, from the ancient Druidiea
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 "broat
as the wind And we have added thu
bitter-sweet, which has no traditionR
Specification whatever, Is not al
evergreen, and Is to be tolefste'
merely for its beauty's sake, and TO
the slight suggestion it gives Of tn
holly berry.
Our American holly Is said to b
less beautiful than the Europeal
plant, having leaves of a duller greer
But, making all allowances for poi
sible disadvantages, it still Is n
markedly beautiful tree. And as
symbol of the immortality which 1t
the seasons special mission to teacl
it surely has no rival. The leaves n
| main on the branches for three year
: losing their hold only when they az
pushed off at last by the growing bud
Of spring,
Throughout England, so little is Il
supremacy disputed, that 1t is popula
ly known as Christmas" just as ii
, hawthorn is called 1.-THE May"
It's name has been a matter OF CO.
siderable interest. Theophrastus on
other Greek authors named the plsl
Agria; that is, wild, or Of the field
! The Romans formed from this Il
word Agrifolium and called 1t eli
Aquifolium, from actum, sharp. as
= folium, leaf. Bauhin and Loursa
y first named it Hex, from the resen
lance of its leaves to those Of q
Quercus lex, species Of oak whit
e was the true lex Of Virgil. Mnnss
adopted the name lex for the gent
e and preserved the name Aquifoltu
e for the most anciently known species
# Our popular name, holly, probah
J. Is a corruption Of the word holy,
y Turner in his herbal calls 1t holy, a
r. holy tree. The thorny foliage a
e the berries like drops Of bright blos
n could scarcely fail to remind Chr
tian Of the crown of thorns, and til
Is together with the universal use Of I
plant In the churches at Christm
easily would account for the name.
h In Germany it is known as Chri
n dorm. The Danish name Is Christie
te and the Swedish Christtorn. 7
same name, Christ's thorn, Is found
10 some parts Of England. But as
legend connects the holly with
30 crown of thorns, this name, univer
among the Germanic peoples, must
i'd merely the result Of its appearal
and of its Christmas popularity,
ne before suggested.