VIII 



I. AQUIFOLIUM Continued 

 Legends, Superstitions, etc. 



WITH a plant that has been in general 

 use for so many centuries, it might 

 naturally be supposed that a great 

 many legends and superstitions 

 would centre round it, and such is the case, 

 numerous ones having originated through its use 

 for Christmas decorations. When it was first 

 used for this purpose it is impossible to say, but, 

 anterior to the Christian era it appears to have 

 been made use of in the celebration of idolatrous 

 festivals, more particularly the festival of the 

 Saturnalia, a feast given over to wanton excesses 

 of all descriptions, at which time all old books 

 agree that it was used in large quantities. The 

 early Christians, we are informed (see Selby's 

 British Trees and other works), adopted the use 

 of the Holly in the celebration of Christmas, so 

 that they should not be conspicuous amongst 

 their countrymen who were celebrating the great 

 Saturnalian feast. Other authors ascribe its use 

 to a probable relic of Druidism. In reference to 



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