Legends Behind Popular Christmas Plants

Holly

These days, holly is closely associated with the Christmas holiday. Its red and green color scheme suits the holiday perfectly, but some Christians also associate holly with Jesus Christ. The pointed leaves of the holly plant represent the crown of thorns that Jesus wore prior to being crucified, while the red of the berries symbolize the blood of Christ. Some also say that the cross itself was constructed from holly wood.
The symbolism associated with holly goes back much farther than that, though, and it’s easy to understand why. In the depths of winter while most plants die off, this evergreen plant retains its bright, strong appearance. Because of this, holly was considered a sacred plant by ancient Celtic cultures. Holly represented fertility, eternal life, and good luck. In the Druid tradition, it was also said that cutting down a holly tree would bring bad luck.

In ancient Rome, holly was said to defend a home from lightning and witches. Holly plants were considered symbols of Saturn, and homes were decorated with wreaths containing holly during the mid-December holiday of Saturnalia. This holiday celebrated the harvest and fertility, and many of the traditions we now associate with Christmas, such as singing and gift-giving, came from the celebration of Saturnalia.

Poinsettia

Poinsettias are the most popular Christmas plant, other than Christmas trees themselves. These brightly colored plants are native to Mexico, and one of the popular legends about poinsettias originates from that country as well. It is said that a young girl named Pepita and her brother were headed to a Christmas Eve service, but Pepita was sad because she had nothing to bring as an offering. Her brother encouraged her by saying that even a humble gift would be appreciated, so she picked some weeds and created a small bouquet.
When she placed the flowers in front of the nativity scene in the church, the weeds changed before her eyes into a bouquet of beautiful, bright-red flowers. Those who witnessed the transformation knew that they had seen a miracle.
Poinsettias are also associated with Christian symbolism. Red leaves correspond to the blood of Jesus Christ, while white leaves symbolize purity. The shape of the leaves is also said to be similar to the Star of Bethlehem from the story of Christ’s birth.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe as a symbol of Christmas is most famous as the plant that hangs in doorways and compels couples who find themselves together underneath to kiss each other. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe likely goes back to ancient Greece, when mistletoe was considered a symbol of fertility. It was also used as a cure for a myriad of illnesses, including ulcers, menstrual cramps, and epilepsy. The Greco-Roman goddess Diana also wore a crown of mistletoe, further solidifying this plant’s association with both immortality and fertility in those cultures.

The Celtic Druids viewed mistletoe as a symbol of fertility and vigor, due to its ability to bloom over the winter. It was used in both humans and animals as a medical treatment to increase fertility. It’s very likely this association with fertility, which spans many cultures, that led this plant to encourage kissing.
Although this plant has a romantic image, the fact is that mistletoe is a parasite that is also poisonous. Mistletoe grows on the crowns of trees and extracts water and nutrients from its hosts. Berries can cause stomach issues and more serious problems if they are ingested by humans, although many animals regularly consume mistletoe berries.

Christmas Trees

There are several legends from various cultures that were the precursors to the current custom of having a decorated tree in the home for the Christmas season. Evergreen plants have long been associated with fertility because they are one of the few signs of life visible during the long and dark winter months.

Evergreen garlands, wreaths, and trees in some cultures were said to protect the home from evil spirits and demons. As with many other plants that are associated with Christmas, evergreen trees were also symbols of fertility in ancient cultures.
Another popular legend about Christmas trees maintains that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to use lighted candles to decorate a tree in the 16th century. According to this story, he was out walking and was inspired by the sight of the stars twinkling through the branches of evergreens. Wanting to replicate the experience for his family, he brought a tree inside and added candles.
In modern Christianity, the tree can be used not just as a decoration, but as a symbol of the nativity and resurrection stories of Jesus Christ. The pointed needles symbolize the crown of thorns that Christ wore while on the cross. Stars and angels decorating the tree are symbols of the Star of Bethlehem and the angels who heralded the birth of the baby Jesus in the nativity story.

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