Just a small cutting of holly superstitions

​When you decorate with holly, Remember:  It is bad luck to bring holly inside the house before Christmas Eve!  Only decorate outside - doorway, stairs, windows or porches.  I'm not sure the reason for this superstition, however, it is very practical.  Cut Holly shrinks up and dries pretty quickly if brought to the warmth inside.  Outside, it stays alive and fresh for the whole Christmas season.  Also, since the berries are poisonous, perhaps, in the days when households were full of many little children, it was easier to monitor if the holly was only in the house for a short duration!

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The holly tree is a symbol of immortality and is absolutely full of life at this time of year with swarms of birds from robins to stellar jays, woodpeckers to juncos, bush tits to black-capped chicadees!  

Another belief is that holly works like a charm to keep the bad fairies away.  I think the holly tree at Meadow Sweet Grove is doing a very good job as I haven't seen any such miscreants hanging about lately.  A holly tree also prevents lightning strikes and is generally protective when planted close to your house -- which makes sense, since no one would want to squeeze by too closely and get scratched by those prickly leaves!