Oak and holly play an important role in many of our holiday
celebrations surrounding the winter solstice. In ancient
cultures the holly tree symbolized the waning sun commencing
with the summer solstice and the oak tree symbolized the waxing
sun commencing with the winter solstice. The Druids believed
holly’s evergreen nature made it sacred and that it remained
green throughout winter to keep the earth beautiful at a time
when deciduous trees shed their leaves. Holly was used for
decoration throughout homes with it being used for boughs over
entrances to peoples’ homes or formed into holly wreaths that
were hung on doors. Placing a ring of holly on doors originated
in Ireland since holly was one of the main plants that was green
and very beautiful with its red berries at this time of year and
gave poor people a means of decorating their dwellings.
Decorating one’s home with holly was believed to bring
protection and good luck to the inhabitants in the coming year.