pfant Tsore, Tscge?^/, aael Isnjricf, ^77 



course of time connetfled it with their own faith. There is an old 



Enf^Hsh suj)er,stition that elves and fairies join the social gatherings 

 at Christmas, and this led to branches being hung up in hall and 

 bower in order that the fays might " hang in each leaf, and cling 

 on every bough during that sacred time when spirits have no power 



to harm." This Evergreen " Christmas " should be taken down 



on Candlemas Eve. Herrick says : — 



"Down with the Holly and Ivy all 



Wherewith ye deck the Christmas hall ; 

 So that the superstitious find 

 No 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." 



De Gubernatis tells us, that in certain parts of France, in Switzer- 

 land, at Bologna, and in other Continental countries, there is an 

 old custom extant of cutting branches of Holly on Christmas Eve, 

 and hanging them in houses and stables, in the hope of driving 

 away evil spirits and witchcraft. As the Holly-leaf is prickly, it 

 repulses and drives away enemies. An English mediaeval ballad 

 illustrates this custom : — 



" Her commys Holly, that is so gent, 

 To please all men is his intent. Alleluia ! - 



But lord and lady of this hall, 

 Who so ever ageynst Holly calL Alleluia ! 

 Who so ever ageynst Holly do crye, 

 In a lepe shall he hang full hie. Alleluia ! 

 Who so ever ageynst Holly do syng. 

 He maye wepe and handys wryng. Alleluia 1 " 



In Germany, Holly is Chvistdovn — the Thorn woven into the crown 



placed on our Saviour's head at the Crucifixion. Witches are 



reputed to detest Holly: in its name they see but another form of 

 the word "holy," and its thorny foliage and blood-red berries are 



suggestive of the most Christian associations. In Northimiber- 



land. Holly is employed in a form of divination. There the prickly 

 variety is called He-Holly, and the smooth, She-Holly. It is the 

 leaves of the latter only that are deemed proper for divining pur- 

 poses. These smooth leaves must be plucked late on a Friday, 

 by persons careful to preserve an unbroken silence from the time 

 they go out to the dawn of the following morn. The leaves must 

 be collected in a three-cornered handkerchief, and on being brought 

 home, nine of them must be seleifted, tied with nine knots into the 

 handkerchief, and placed beneath the pillow. Then, sleep being 

 obtained, dreams worthy of all credit will attend this rite. In 

 another form of divination, a maiden places three pails of water on 

 her bedroom floor, then pins to her night-dress, opposite her heart, 

 three leaves of green Holly, and so retires to rest. She will be 

 aroused from her first sleep by three terrible jells, followed by 

 three horse-laughs, after which the form of her future husband will 



