HOLLY. 281 



numerous leaves bristling with thorns, until it 

 arrives to about the height of ten feet, when 

 the leaves cease to be thorny, and are per- 

 fectly smooth and even, because it has no 

 longer occasion to arm itself against an ene- 

 my who cannot reach higher ; but we revere 

 the holly branch with its spiny and highly 

 varnished foliage, which reflects its coral 

 berries, as an emblem that foretells the fes- 

 tival of Christmas, and the season when Eng- 

 lish hospitality shines in roast beef, turkeys, 

 and the national pudding. 



Tradition says, that the first Christian 

 church in Britain was built of boughs ; and 

 that the disciples adopted the plan, as more 

 likely to attract the notice of the people, 

 because the heathens built their temples in 

 that manner, probably to imitate the temples 

 of Saturn, which were always under the oak. 



The great feast of Saturn was held in De- 

 cember ; and as the oaks of this country were 

 then without leaves, the' priests obliged the 

 people to bring in boughs and sprigs of 

 evergreens ; and Christians, on the twenty- 

 fifth of the same month did the like; from 

 whence originated the present custom of 

 placing holly and other evergreens in our 

 churches and houses, to show the feast of 

 Christmas is arrived. 



