While you’re checking out our Holiday Floral & Gift guide, you’ll see quite a bit of holly featured. When it comes to decorating for the holidays, holly is seen everywhere. How did this tiny red berry become so enmeshed in Christmas decor?  If you think it’s because of its red and green coloring, well, there’s more to the story. The Holly plant is pretty fascinating and the experts at Expressions Unlimited, Greenville’s best florist, are happy to give you some insight about the history, symbolism, and use of holly during this time of year.

WHAT IS HOLLY?

The holly plant, which can actually grow to tree-size status, has dark green leaves with multiple pointy edges that boast bright red berries when fully mature. The leaves are thick and leathery, and the berries they produce are toxic for people and animals when eaten (though some winter birds, like robins, use them as a food source). This festive plant is commonly associated with Christmas today, though it has been part of other winter celebrations for centuries. When planted in the spring, holly keeps its luster throughout the winter season, making it ideal for decorating and displaying. Due to its popularity in winter, holly has become the official birth “flower” of December.

WHAT DOES HOLLY SYMBOLIZE?

Not only is holly used to decorate for Christmas, but it is also a popular adornment for Winter Solstice rituals and celebrations. Holly was considered the sacred plant of Saturn, the God of agriculture and time in Ancient Rome. It was a popular decoration during the festival of Saturnalia and often given as gifts in a wreath. Early Roman Christians were said to have put Holly leaves on their doors in order to avoid persecution, but as Christianity slowly gained dominance, Holly became associated with the celebration of Christ’s birth in December. European pagans also used Holly in decoration and even put sprigs in their hair. They believed the green leaves and bright red berries kept the earth beautiful during a time when other plants went away.

Countryside Cardinal

HOW CAN WE DECORATE WITH HOLLY?

There are plenty of great ways to decorate with holly, from placing boughs of holly throughout your home, on windowsills and fireplace mantles, to hanging wreaths made from holly on your front door. Sprigs of holly can even be worn as an accessory on clothing or in hair. We love to include holly as an accent in many of our holiday bouquets, as seen in our Countryside Cardinal bouquet and our Holly Jolly Christmas bouquet. Coupled with other beautiful winter greens and reds, holly berries add a festive touch to any holiday design.

Holly Jolly Christmas

Choose to include holly in your holiday decorating this winter as a nod at age-old traditions, as well as the symbolism it has taken on in connection to Christmas. If you or someone you know has a December birthday, by all means- celebrate by sending them floral arrangements that include their birth flower! Talk to the floral designers at Expressions Unlimited for more great ways to include holly in your decor this winter.