158 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



It was in the days of the Druids, however, that we find the 

 holly and mistletoe treated with peculiar veneration and 

 credited with supernatural powers. They attached special 

 significance to mistletoe, particularly, when it was discovered 

 growing on an oak tree. When such a growth was found it 

 was gathered by the priests who, ceremoniously clad in robes 

 of white, employed all the rites essential to so solemn an oc- 

 casion. For the ceremony a golden sickle was used — a sickle 

 which was never used for any other purpose. This highly- 

 prized mistletoe was sent to various important families with 

 appropriate Yuletide greetings. The recipients of this token 

 of appreciation were expected to reciprocate with timely and 

 generous contributions. 



It is interesting to find that holly was used in the Saturna- 

 lia of the Romans which was celebrated in December when the 

 sun began its upward course, and corresponded to Yuletide. 

 When the Christians began to celebrate the birthday of Christ 

 it is said that they too used holly in order that they might not 

 appear conspicuous among the Saturnalians. With the spread 

 of Christianity and the indentification of the day of the birth 

 of Christ as the twenty-fifth day of December, a date coinci- 

 dental with Yuletide, the celebration of the birthday of the 

 sun was gradually resolved into the Christmas festivities. In 

 the process much of the ceremony and tradition attendant 

 upon the pagan festival was quietly transfered to the Christian 

 observation of the day. 



Holly has been the subject of much superstition and legend. 

 Pliny says that holly planted about a home serves as a charm 

 and keeps away all ill spells, and also guards against any mis- 

 directed bolts of lightning. It was popularly believed in the 

 middle ages that witches used holly in the manufacture of 

 their midnight spells and incantations. Berries from holly 



