The Holly and the Ivy
The Holly and the Ivy ( The Holly and the Ivy ) is a popular traditional English Christmas carol.
The Christian symbol color of Advent and Christmas ( that is, green and red ) carrying Holly with her occupied with spiny teeth leaves and red berries represents with its spiky leaves the Crown of Thorns, the red berries remember his drop of blood. The evergreen illustrated by the Christian vision " incorruptible life that Jesus gave when he wore the crown of thorns ."
Today's best-known version of the song was first published by Cecil Sharp. Another version can be found in Christmas Carols New and Old by Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer. It has often been processed, including by Walford Davies, Reginald Jacques, Matthew Owens and John Rutter (see sound examples).
It is found in many Carol collections, such as the Oxford Book of Carols ( in a version by Martin Shaw) or 100 Carols for Choirs (as amended by Walford Davies).
The original symbolism of the anonymous song is connected with fertility rites:
"The symbolism of this anonymous carol Relates to ancient fertility mythology and the association of the male with holly and good and the female with ivy and evil. It june Accompanied have some sort of ritual mating dance. "