178 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



is probably derived from the ancient Romans, who 

 used to send boughs to their friends during the feast 

 of the Saturnalia, which occurred about the same 

 period, and the oaks being then bare of leaves, the 

 priests instructed the people to bring in branches 

 of holly and evergreens. There is evidence that 

 the early Christians, disregarding the Church's 

 interdiction on this matter, introduced the heathen 

 practice of decorating their houses with holly, and 

 in course of time it came to be duly connected with 

 the Christian observance of Christmas. 



There is an old English superstition that elves 

 and fairies join the social gatherings at Christmas, 

 and this led to branches being hung in halls and 

 entrances in order that " the fays might hang 

 in each leaf, and cling to every bough during 

 that sacred time when spirits have no power to 

 harm." 



These decorations must be taken down on Candle- 

 mas Eve: 



" Down with the holly and ivy all 



Wherewith ye deck the Christmas hall; 



So that the superstitious find 



Not one least branch there left behind; 



For look, how many leaves there be 



Neglected there — maids, tend to me — 



So many goblins ye shall see." 



The disciples of Zoroaster, or fire-worshippers, 

 believe that the holly tree casts no shadow, and 

 both in Persia and India they employ an infusion 

 of its leaves for several purposes of their religious 

 observances. Pliny states that if the holly be planted 

 near a house it will keep away all malign spells 



