Ireland's OWN: Myths and Magic

Holly
—by Míchealín Ní Dhochartaigh

Holly, or Ilex aquifolium, is also known as Christ's Thorn, Holm, Holme Chase, Holy Tree, Hulm, Hulver Bush and Tinne.

In the Celtic Tree calendar, Holly (Tinne) runs from 8 July through 4 August. Holly guards the door to the inner realms. It is associated with Lammas. Holly’s qualities include courage, war-like instinct, male sexuality and male energy. Just as the Holly and Oak kings battled at Yule, they again battle for supremacy at Lammas; but this time it is the Holly King, God of the Waning year, who will win.

Thus, Yule is the battle between the aging Holly King, who represents the darkness of the old year, and the young Oak King, who symbolizes the light of the new year. Along with the evergreen, the holly and the ivy and the mistletoe were important plants of the season, all symbolizing fertility and everlasting life.

Hollies prefer to grow in acidic soils, which is why in nature they do so well in oak forests. Thus, the "Oak King" and "Holly King" may have more in common than we realise.

Another version of the Oak/Holly King theme, was the ritual hunting and killing of a Wren. The Wren, ‘Little King of the Waning Year,’ is killed by the Robin Redbreast, ‘King of the Waxing Year.’ The Robin finds the Wren hiding in an Ivy bush (or as in some parts of Ireland — a holly bush).

Ivy is seen as the twin sibling of Holly. To the Celts, the embodiment of the female aspects of nature is Ivy, and Holly that of the male. That piece of Celtic lore lives on today, especially in Wales, where farmers do not touch Holly when they lay their traditional hedges, out of a respect for Holly.

Medicinal uses

The leaves are used for colds with fever. They are soaked over night, then briefly boiled, for use as a tea that not only alleviates fever but soothes coughing by releasing mucus.

Wicca

To Wiccans, holly represents the polarity of masculine and feminine. Spend some time this season holding in your hands some dried holly whilst contemplating measures you would like to take with you life and absorbing the energy of the holly. Spend some time think about the male and female aspects of your psyche. Allow the plant to speak to you. Then begin breaking it into small pieces and toss them one by one into your incense burner. Repeat the following chant:

Holly of fire and God's own might,
Sparked to life by the Goddesses light;
The lesson that two in one must first be,
Allow that power to manifest within me.

The Four Elements

The physical characteristics may also be thought of as representing the four elements.

Earth: Holly grows deeply into the Earth element. It is well-rooted with dense wood of a white or yellowish-greenish colour with a shimmer of blue.

Water: Gentle rains and the alternation of sun and clouds (as exemplified in Ireland), is where Holly is most at home.

Air: Air brings lightness while water brings renewal of life.

Fire: The red fruits suggest a strong fire process. However, Holly does not have an intense devouring flame. Rather it appears to work as a gentle warmth.

All in all, Holly incorporates a very harmonious interplay of all four elements.

Sources:

Farrar, J and Farrar, S. A Witches' Bible: The Complete Witches' Handbook. Phoenix Publishing, London, 1984.
Grieve, M. A Modern Herbal, Random House Publishers, 1973
Llewellyn Witches' Datebook 2003. ed. KM Brielmaier, Llewellyn Worldwide, 2002.
Morrison, D. The Craft, Llewellyn Worldwide, 2002.
Personal knowledge/traditions.