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Holly

The holly has tough, evergreen glossy leaves.They are usually dark green above and pale green below. Some holly leaves are white or cream at the edges. Holly leaves have sharp prickles. However the leaves higher up on the holly tree do not have prickles because there is no need for protection against animals.

                                                        By Bridget

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Holly and berries

Holly at Christmas

Long before the birth of Christ evergreens were used to decorate Roman homes. During the winter festival the Romans carried holly and other green plants in processionThe use of holly as we know it however is purely Christian in origin. It is said to symbolise Christ's crown of thorns. The pointy leaves are a symbol of his wounds and the red berries are a symbol of his blood.

                                                       By Stephanie

A Holly Story

Many stories have been written about the holly. One of these tells of the holly tree which stood bare of berries outside the stable where Christ was born. To celebrate the birth of the Baby Jesus the bare holly tree straight away bore buds, flowers and berries all in one night!!!

                                                                   By Brona and Samantha

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Holly Wreath

Holly Decorations

Many people make  wreaths from holly and hang them up as  Christmas decorations. Others put sprigs of holly in different places around the house for example behind a picture, over the fireplace, on the window or on top of presses.

                                         By Kevin and Stephen O'

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Holly String

Stringing the Holly

Many years ago in a small parish in North Wexford there was a custom of 'stringing the holly'.

Each  year during the week before Christmas the altar boys would go to the priest's house and begin  a hard and often 'painful on the fingers' task. First of all leaves were plucked from the holly sprigs. The leaves were put in bundles according to size. A sack needle or large darning needle was used to pull a string through the centre of each leaf. The leaves had to be put on the string in a particular way. The dark side of one leaf had to be put facing the dark side of the next followed by the pale side of that leaf facing the pale side of the following leaf. When the job was finished a workman was employed to hang the 'strung' holly along the walls of the altar area of the church. It was looped and curved across the walls in  patterns which made a wonderful sight indeed on Christmas morning.

                                                          By Stephen D. and Lisa

To Make a Holly Man

You will need black, red and green sugar paper or you can use white paper and colour the holly leaves and berries.

Draw some holly leaves and berries and cut them out.

Use an A4 sheet of paper for a background.

Place a berry on top for a head.

Place a leaf vertically below the berry for the body.

Join two leaves horizontally for the arms.

Use another two leaves for the legs.

Use red berries for hands and feet. 

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Your Hollyman should look like this!

By the pupils of 2nd & 3rd Classes at Scoil Chaoimhín Naofa Glendalough

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