The Holly and the Ivy

This is a song I must have heard a hundred times, and yet never had I listened to the words until it was posted on Barbara's blog, Mommy Life. She always has the neatest posts with great info or a laugh or an inspiration. She has several youtube videos of different versions of the song if you are interested. Anyway, the song... WOW. The words tell so beautifully about Christ.

The Holly and the Ivy

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir



As I am prone to doing, after hearing this carol with new ears, I wanted to learn its story and so I turned to internet searches. This is an anonymous hymn, rather old it seems, maybe 17th or 18th centuries, and may have ties to winter's pre-christian (pagan) celebratory plant, holly, and certainly seems to be derived in part to ancient songs and poems about the rivalry of holly and ivy. In this song ivy is barely mentioned and all potentially pagan references disappear. Instead, the hymnist reclaims this and writes this beautiful carol full of religious symbolism telling of our Christ. (According to Medieval tradition the cross was made of holly.) Read the hymn again and enjoy through symbolism the story of our Lord's gift to us.