Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly!

Holly Fairy, c 1930, Cicely Mary Barker

The Meadow Sweet Grove fairies are getting ready to deck their little halls with boughs of holly.  And why not?  "Deck the Halls" is such a quintessential Christmas song.  There have been several different versions over time, but they all seem to fully encompass the true gaiety and spirit of the winter celebrations.  The happiness and joy of being warm and snug and safe during the cold winter nights, with lots of good food and drink to share with family, friends and neighbours ... now that's a reason to celebrate!

Everything about Deck the Halls resonates joy and good spirits - decorating the home with symbols of everlasting life and passing the torch of that life along to the "lads and lasses", being happy and good-natured, rejoicing in the abundance of "more than enough to go around", and a nod to the ancientness of man's celebrations at this time of year.   Even the replacement of: "Fill the mead cup, drain the barrel" with "Don we now our gay apparel" illustrates that the message was clearly understood.  Yule is a time to fully enjoy the abundance you are blessed with ... whether it be with an ample amount of good drink ... or by dressing in all your finest clothes! ​

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Excerpt from Dec. 1987 Newspaper - Special Christmas Pull Out Section

​Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2016