The Holly and the Ivy

This pretty holiday song is a traditional British tune that we may not be so familiar with since it rarely shows up in the States as a standard Christmas carol. This particular carol has been around since at least 1911, but has been noted in an early list of songs that dates back to the early 1800s. It is possible that it dates back even further, but there is no proof of it. It was once described as a “touchingly simple class of religious ballad” by a reviewer in the early 1800s. It almost was misplaced forever, but one copy managed to make it through to a collector who was compiling a list of songs in 1849. The early versions do not contain any music for the carols, but it was called an old French carol.

The church started using holly and ivy in their decorations in the 15th century, and they are part of the traditional British holiday décor. Holly is associated with the winter solstice in druid lore and the Romans have paired up holly with Saturn. Henry VIII paid tribute to holly and ivy in a love song that he wrote. He is as true as the holly and the ivy are green in the winter. Holly and ivy have even been used to represent men and women with women being the ivy and men the holly. Make your own interpretation here. The  story goes that the men would sing of the great traits of the holly and how horrid the ivy was, and likewise, the women would sing of the virtues of the ivy and the hideous nature of the holly. These “carols”, “sing alongs”, “ battles of the bands” took place when, apparently, there was nothing else to do. The only way to resolve the “fight” was to take it under the mistletoe.

Holly, ivy and mistletoe are forever green plants that have long been associated with the Christmas season.

1

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.

The rising of the sun

And the running of the deer,

The playing of the merry organ,

Sweet singing in the choir.

2

The holly bears a blossom,

As white as the lily flower,

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,

To be our sweet Saviour.

The rising of the sun, etc.

3

The holly bears a berry,

As red as any blood,

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

For to do us sinners good.

The rising of the sun, etc.

4

The holly bears a prickle,

As sharp as any thorn,

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

On Christmas Day in the morn.

The rising of the sun, etc.

5

The holly bears a bark,

As bitter as any gall,

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

For to redeem us all.

The rising of the sun, etc.

6

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.

The rising of the sun, etc.

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Enjoy, 
Julie and Blu

 

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