Ever wonder why holly, ivy, mistletoe, poinsettias and Christmas roses became the accouterments of choice for holiday decor? It seems that for some folks the festive spirit of the season just isn’t complete without one or more of these tried and true floras placed strategically around the home. Indeed, it’s hard to look at the star-shaped formation of brilliant crimson poinsettia foliage or tiny red berries against a backdrop of waxy green holly leaves without thinking of Christmas. But just how did this handful of plants become so sought after?

Poinsettias

Grown in abundance throughout the United States, poinsettias are the most popular holiday plant. They’re native to Mexico and were originally transported to the United States by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who brought the plant to his homeland in 1828 and is its namesake. The legend of the poinsettia tells of a poor village boy in Mexico who wanted to give the Holy Child a gift but had no money. In desperation, he picked some weeds on his way to church to leave as an offering to the infant. He prayed God would help him show his love, and God answered by turning the weeds into beautiful star-shaped foliage with stunning red leaves. The plant became a Christmas symbol signifying how Jesus meets the needs of his believers. The poinsettia found a place in Christmas rituals after the Spanish conquest and the introduction of Christianity.

Mistletoe

Modern romantic notions of kissing under the mistletoe are somewhat misleading. Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that often chokes and kills the host plant it inhabits; it’s cultivated by the regurgitation of birds as they move from tree to tree; and it’s poisonous. The best-known mistletoe legend is from Norse mythology: A poisonous mistletoe arrow was used to kill Balder, who was otherwise invulnerable to harm. The tears of his mother, the goddess Frigga, restored Balder to life and turned into the pearly white berries of the mistletoe plant. In her gratitude, Frigga kissed everyone who passed beneath the mistletoe. The plant is hung in doorways to ward off evil and bring happiness, health and good luck. But if you stumble upon the plant in nature, it’s probably best to steer clear.

Holly

A common superstition surrounding holly and its association with Christmas is that holly trees grew in Jesus’ footsteps. Its white flowers represent Christ’s purity and birth. Its red berries signify Christ’s blood, and its sharp leaves denote the crown of thorns placed upon his head. Some writers have even said holly was the plant plaited to form the crown of thorns, and the berries were originally white before being stained with the blood of Christ. For the Romans, holly trees were sacred to Saturn and holly wreaths were given as gifts during Saturnalia, the ancient holiday after which Christmas is patterned. Romans decked their homes with holly in hopes of avoiding persecution.

Ivy

Associated with Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, ivy was thought to bring good luck, fun and happiness. Growing ivy on walls was supposed to prevent misfortunes. However, if the ivy died, it was thought the home’s inhabitants could expect financial trouble. Ivy, like evergreens, is seen as a symbol of eternal life. Because ivy indicates prosperity and charity, it became associated with Christmas, which is a time meant to celebrate the rich rewards of life and yet reflect on those less fortunate. Christian symbolists also consider the ivy’s need to cling to a support emblematic of man’s need for divine support.

Christmas rose

The Christmas rose gets its name for an obvious reason: It blooms in late December. Its bloom time has inspired various legends. According to one, a young shepherdess named Madelan wanted to bestow a gift upon the Christ child. Saddened because she had no gift for the young deity, she returned to her flocks. There, the angel Gabriel appeared and magically caused the fields to bloom with Christmas roses, which she took as her token to the baby Jesus. Another legend surrounding the Christmas rose is set in a Scandinavian forest. A group of poor peasants had ventured far into the woods on Christmas Eve. They were distressed by their poverty and inability to provide their children with any gifts. Suddenly, the forest was bathed in white light and the ground was covered with Christmas roses to bring cheer to the peasant children.

Sources: 1stholistic.com, pioneerthinking.com, members.aol.com, urbanext.uiuc.edu