360 VOICES FROM THE WOODLANDS. 



The ancient custom of decorating houses and churches 

 with my branches at Christmas, continued the holly, is 

 believed to have originated from the observances of Druid- 

 ism ; and, in allusion to their enduring nature, my branches 

 were sent by the Romans to their friends with new year's 

 gifts, as emblematic of a lasting attachment. It is, how- 

 ever, believed by many antiquarians, that the custom above 

 alluded to passed from Italy into Britain in the time of 

 Augustine, and that the decorating of sacred edifices and 

 private dwellings with evergreen, was merely designed 

 as an emblem of true religion. Be this as it may, we 

 know that holly and yew branches were used instead of 

 palms at the coming round of Palm Sunday. Methinks 

 there is something pleasing in thus associating evergreens 

 with seasons of thanksgiving. Many find fault with these 

 simple customs, and assign their origin to the dark ages 

 of Pagan superstition ; but surely it is better to attribute 

 them to the flowing forth of youthful feeling, in those 

 who where permitted to assemble, it might be, in churches 

 from which they had long been expelled. 



