| The use of greenery at Christmas time is a | | | | are lighter in colour and weight, and the berries |
| beautiful old custom. Holly and mistletoe are two | | | | are less vivid. Holly can be used as part of |
| evergreens that are inseparably connected with | | | | Christmas decorations in many ways including in |
| Christmas, in fact, Christmas just wouldn't be | | | | wreaths, and Christmas wreaths have a long |
| Christmas without them! | | | | tradition. Holly wreaths usually have other natural |
| Holly and mistletoe can be bought in local street | | | | items mixed with them such as pine cones and |
| markets in the run up to Xmas, or if you are | | | | can also be decorated with coloured ribbons, |
| lucky enough to have a large garden or live near | | | | usually dark green or red, and bells and bows. |
| woods, you may be able to gather them yourself. | | | | The custom of displaying a Christmas wreath on |
| English mistletoe has large white berries and | | | | the front door of a house may be related to |
| grey-green leaves whereas American mistletoe is | | | | thinking of others and inviting them to share our |
| olive green and the berries form large clusters. | | | | Christmas spirit. |
| Both types grow by attaching themselves to | | | | The fir tree is another example of an evergreen |
| large trees. Legend has it that mistletoe was used | | | | used to great effect at Xmas time. The coloured |
| by the mysterious celtic Druids of Wales in their | | | | balls and silver ornaments used to decorate |
| festive rites at the time of the winter solstice, | | | | Christmas trees are remotely symbolic of the sun |
| and thus, like many Xmas traditions, is pagan in | | | | and moon. Twinkling lights are said to represent |
| origin. | | | | the stars, which, in pagan theory, is beautifully |
| English holly has dark leaves, long thorns and | | | | symbolic of the very first Christmas eve. |
| brilliant red berries whereas the American varieties | | | | |