Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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The Holly and the Ivy

Holly in the Cemetery
Holly in the Cemetery

 

The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown.

Living evergreen decoration is a key element in seasonal decoration for winter and Christmas festivities. The Christian festival falls at the time of the original pagan feasts which celebrated light over darkness and was called the winter solstice. Pagan symbolism of believing that evergreens in winter kept away evil spirits merged with Christian celebrations over the years and the use of holly and ivy in evergreen boughs is long standing in the UK. Holly and ivy have been the mainstay of Christmas decoration for church use since at least the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, when they are mentioned regularly in churchwardens’ accounts.

Henry VIII wrote a love song Green groweth the holly which alludes to holly and ivy resisting winter blasts and not changing their green hue.
So I am and ever hath been Unto my lady true.