Thalassa2 (very very off)
Wishing my flickr friends good luck, health, happiness, and prosperity in 2011 !!
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The Legends of the Holly bush
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- It was the Burning Bush of Moses’ vision.
- It was the plant of Mother Holle (or Hel), the Norse underworld Goddess.
- In Germany, witches used Holly for making wands.
- The Dionysian cult of Roman times displayed the holly with ivy, as the symbol of feminine and masculine balance during times of the solstitial festival.
- It is symbolic of the crown of thorns and drops of blood on the Savior’s head.
- Holly was also brought into the house variously to protect the home from malevolent faeries.
- Holly trees were traditionally known for protection from lightning strikes, to which end they were planted near a house. The spines on the distinctively-shaped holly leaves can act as miniature lightning conductors, thereby protecting the tree and other nearby objects.
- Holly was associated with thunder gods such as Thor and Taranis.
- When the Holy Family was fleeing into the desert from Herod, they hid the baby Jesus in a holly bush. At that time, the leaves had fallen as the holly was not an evergreen. Mary prayed for protection, and the leaves grew - green to hide and protect the baby Jesus.
- The Druids believed that holly, with its shiny leaves and red berries stayed green to keep the earth beautiful when the sacred oak lost it leaves.
- The berries and leaves were used to ward off witchcraft and the evil eye.
- Put a sprig of holly on the bedpost to bring sweet dreams.
- If holly is hung in the barn, animals will fatten and thrive.
- Lucky charms comprising of holly leaves are created in Japan
- The Chinese use Holly during new year festivities.
- If there is an abundance of red berries on a bush, it is believed that the winter would be severe as the bush is providing extra food for the birds to get through a harsh winter.
Wishing my flickr friends good luck, health, happiness, and prosperity in 2011 !!
Press "L" to view on black
.
The Legends of the Holly bush
.
.
- It was the Burning Bush of Moses’ vision.
- It was the plant of Mother Holle (or Hel), the Norse underworld Goddess.
- In Germany, witches used Holly for making wands.
- The Dionysian cult of Roman times displayed the holly with ivy, as the symbol of feminine and masculine balance during times of the solstitial festival.
- It is symbolic of the crown of thorns and drops of blood on the Savior’s head.
- Holly was also brought into the house variously to protect the home from malevolent faeries.
- Holly trees were traditionally known for protection from lightning strikes, to which end they were planted near a house. The spines on the distinctively-shaped holly leaves can act as miniature lightning conductors, thereby protecting the tree and other nearby objects.
- Holly was associated with thunder gods such as Thor and Taranis.
- When the Holy Family was fleeing into the desert from Herod, they hid the baby Jesus in a holly bush. At that time, the leaves had fallen as the holly was not an evergreen. Mary prayed for protection, and the leaves grew - green to hide and protect the baby Jesus.
- The Druids believed that holly, with its shiny leaves and red berries stayed green to keep the earth beautiful when the sacred oak lost it leaves.
- The berries and leaves were used to ward off witchcraft and the evil eye.
- Put a sprig of holly on the bedpost to bring sweet dreams.
- If holly is hung in the barn, animals will fatten and thrive.
- Lucky charms comprising of holly leaves are created in Japan
- The Chinese use Holly during new year festivities.
- If there is an abundance of red berries on a bush, it is believed that the winter would be severe as the bush is providing extra food for the birds to get through a harsh winter.