There is a whole series of popular medieval English carols on the subject of the rivalry between these two plants. The most familiar, which is given below, merely uses the various parts of the holly plant as symbols of different aspects of Christ's life and does not discuss the ivy at all. In other holly and ivy songs of the period, the holly and ivy symbolized male and female respectively, and the songs detailed the often rowdy vying for mastery in the forest or in the house.

The holly and the ivy,
Now they are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown:

REFRAIN
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ;
Sweet singing in the choir,

The holly bears a blossom,
As white as the lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour:

REFRAIN

The holly bears a berry,
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good:

REFRAIN

The holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thom,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Chnst
On Christmas Day in the morn:

REFRAIN

The holly bears a bark,
As bitter as any gall
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeern us all:

REFRAIN
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:

REFRAIN

This is another one which appears on the Chieftan's "Bells of Dublin CD

*************
©2000 Gwen Nowrick. All rights reserved. No reprints without written permission of the author.
*************