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Christmas Greens
Included among the plants which are used for decorating the hall, church,
and home at Christmas are the favorites: Holly, Mistletoe, and Poinsettia.
Below are some of the interesting beliefs and legends.
Holly -- It is believed that God spoke to
Moses from a holly bush. This may be a modification of "holy", as the English
and American holly trees are sometimes called "holy tree". Ancient winter
festivals used it as a symbol of immortality because it bore its fruits
during the winter. If planted near a dwelling, it was supposed to guard
against lightning. When worn in the shape of a wreath, holly was considered
to have magical qualities. If worn to church on Christmas Eve, it gave the
wearer second sight as to the future.
Holly was considered to be hateful to witches, and if hung on doors and
windows would keep evil spirits away. Some say it sprang to being beneath
Christ's first footsteps, and all beasts revered it.
Mistletoe, especially that which grew on an oak, was sacred to the
Druids. It was cut with a golden sickle reserved for that purpose. Young
priests carried twigs of it to the homes of the people, whose duty was to
welcome them and give them gifts. It was then hung over the door to bring
good will to all who passed under it. (Did this leas to the "kissing"
tradition? Such kisses were supposed to be given, one for each berry, which
was plucked off after each kiss.) Another legend says the mistletoe was the
tree which furnished the cross for the crucifixion, and afterward withered
to its present size. Science has found no evidence for belief that mistletoe
has healing powers."
The Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a member of the
Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae), and it is a native of the tropical
Americas. It was named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, a South Carolinian
(1779-1851), who was U.S. Minister to Mexico in 1825 to 1829. The plant was
introduced to United States in 1835. It is America's favorite Christmas
flower. The real flowers are tiny and yellow, and are surrounded by tapering
scarlet petal-like leaves. Near San Diego, California, on U.S. Highway 101,
is the world's largest commercial planting of poinsettias, about 400 acres,
which supplies almost ninety percent of all the plants grown in America. It
has been in existence since 1902.
Conifers -- Tips to help in identifying
some of our common evergreen trees.
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