In the Church’s liturgy, joy and sorrow seem always to be mingled, at least until we celebrate the permanent defeat of death at Easter. One ancient symbol of this commingling is the holly, which bears fruit in winter. Christians have long seen in its bright red berries and spiky leaves an image, in the midst of the Christmas season, of the crown of thorns, and the 19th-century carol “The Holly and the Ivy” draws on this traditional meaning.
Although the holly is the star of this carol, the ivy also holds a place in Christian symbology: With its evergreen leaves and reliance on a strong support in order to grow upward, ivy represents fidelity to Christ.
The Holly and the Ivy
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.
REFRAIN:
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a blossom,
As white as the lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our sweet Saviour. (Refrain)
The holly bears a berry,
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to do us sinners good. (Refrain)
The holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn. (Refrain)
The holly bears a bark,
As bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To redeem us all. (Refrain)
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. (Refrain)