The Holly and the Ivy
Encyclopedia
"The Holly and the Ivy" is an English traditional Christmas carol
. The carol contains intermingled Christian and Pagan
imagery, with holly and ivy representing Pagan fertility symbols. Holly and ivy have been the mainstay of Christmas decoration for church use since at least the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, when they are mentioned regularly in churchwardens’ accounts" (Roud 2004). Holly and ivy also figure in the lyrics of the "Sans Day Carol
". The music and most of the text was first published by Cecil Sharp
. Sir Henry Walford Davies
wrote a popular choral arrangement that is often performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
and by choirs around the world.
(Gaelic: cuileann) was sacred to druids who associated it with the winter solstice
, and for Romans, holly was considered the plant of Saturn. European Holly has always traditionally had a strong association with Christmas. Henry VIII wrote a love song Green groweth the holly which alludes to holly and ivy resisting winter blasts and not changing their green hue So I am and ever hath been Unto my lady true.
Early English Lyrics by Chambers and Sidgwick, published in 1926, mentions a broadside of 1710 with a version of the carol which begins
An early book mentions the carol as well as a manuscript containing a more ancient song which is, or was, in the British Museum
. The book was printed in 1823 and entitled Ancient Mysteries Described: Especially the English Miracle Plays founded on Aprocryphal New Testament Story extant among the unpublished manuscripts in the British Museum by the author, investigative journalist, devout Christian and former satirist, William Hone
(1780–1842), and printed at 45 Ludgate Hill
London
. The book contains a list of carols (p 99) described as Christmas Carols now annually Printed including 70. The holly and the ivy, now are both well grown.
The book also describes (p 94) a British Museum manuscript: The same volume contains a song on the Holly and the Ivy which I mention because there is an old Carol on the same subject still printed. The MS begins with,
The music and most of the text was also collected later by Cecil Sharp
(1859–1924) from a woman in Chipping Campden
, Gloucestershire
which is also related to the older carol described as: "The Contest of the Ivy and the Holly", a contest between the traditional emblems of woman and man respectively.
There are indications in other manuscripts that in ancient English village life there was a midwinter custom of holding singing-contests between men and women, where the men sang carols praising holly (for its "masculine" qualities) and disparaging ivy, while women sang songs praising the ivy (for its "feminine" qualities) and disparaging holly. (More of the men's songs have been recorded and survived than the women's, as in the examples above.) The resolution between the two was under the mistletoe
. These three plants are the most prominent green plants in British native woodland during the winter, and for this reason they earned respect from the early country-dwellers and a place in their traditions.
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
. The carol contains intermingled Christian and Pagan
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
imagery, with holly and ivy representing Pagan fertility symbols. Holly and ivy have been the mainstay of Christmas decoration for church use since at least the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, when they are mentioned regularly in churchwardens’ accounts" (Roud 2004). Holly and ivy also figure in the lyrics of the "Sans Day Carol
Sans Day Carol
The "Sans Day Carol" or "St. Day Carol" is one of the many Cornish Christmas carols written in the 19th century. This carol and its melody were first transcribed from the singing of Thomas Beard, a villager in St Day in the parish of Gwennap, Cornwall. The fourth verse is a translation from the...
". The music and most of the text was first published by Cecil Sharp
Cecil Sharp
Cecil James Sharp was the founding father of the folklore revival in England in the early 20th century, and many of England's traditional dances and music owe their continuing existence to his work in recording and publishing them.-Early life:Sharp was born in Camberwell, London, the eldest son of...
. Sir Henry Walford Davies
Henry Walford Davies
Sir Henry Walford Davies KCVO OBE was a British composer, who held the title Master of the King's Musick from 1934 until 1941.-Early life and education:...
wrote a popular choral arrangement that is often performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Nine Lessons and Carols
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a format for a service of Christian worship celebrating the birth of Jesus that is traditionally followed at Christmas...
and by choirs around the world.
Lyrics
- 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.
- Refrain:
- Oh, 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 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 thorn,
- And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ 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 redeem us all.
- Refrain
Lyrics
European HollyEuropean Holly
Ilex aquifolium, holly, or european holly, is a species of holly native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia.- Overview :...
(Gaelic: cuileann) was sacred to druids who associated it with the winter solstice
Solstice
A solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice each year when the Sun's apparent position in the sky, as viewed from Earth, reaches its northernmost or southernmost extremes...
, and for Romans, holly was considered the plant of Saturn. European Holly has always traditionally had a strong association with Christmas. Henry VIII wrote a love song Green groweth the holly which alludes to holly and ivy resisting winter blasts and not changing their green hue So I am and ever hath been Unto my lady true.
Early English Lyrics by Chambers and Sidgwick, published in 1926, mentions a broadside of 1710 with a version of the carol which begins
- The holly and the ivy
- Now are both well grown
- Of all the trees that are in the wood
- The holly bears the crown
An early book mentions the carol as well as a manuscript containing a more ancient song which is, or was, in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. The book was printed in 1823 and entitled Ancient Mysteries Described: Especially the English Miracle Plays founded on Aprocryphal New Testament Story extant among the unpublished manuscripts in the British Museum by the author, investigative journalist, devout Christian and former satirist, William Hone
William Hone
William Hone was an English writer, satirist and bookseller. His victorious court battle against government censorship in 1817 marked a turning point in the fight for British press freedom.-Biography:...
(1780–1842), and printed at 45 Ludgate Hill
Ludgate Hill
Ludgate Hill is a hill in the City of London, near the old Ludgate, a gate to the City that was taken down, with its attached gaol, in 1780. Ludgate Hill is the site of St Paul's Cathedral, traditionally said to have been the site of a Roman temple of the goddess Diana. It is one of the three...
London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The book contains a list of carols (p 99) described as Christmas Carols now annually Printed including 70. The holly and the ivy, now are both well grown.
The book also describes (p 94) a British Museum manuscript: The same volume contains a song on the Holly and the Ivy which I mention because there is an old Carol on the same subject still printed. The MS begins with,
- Nay, my nay, hyt shal not be I wys,
- Let holy hafe the maystry, as the maner ys:
- Holy stond in the hall, faire to behold,
- Ivy stond without the dore, she ys ful sore acold,
- Nay, my nay etc
- Holy and hys mery men, they dawnseyn and they syng,
- Ivy and hur maydyns, they wepen and they wryng.
- Nay, my nay etc'
The music and most of the text was also collected later by Cecil Sharp
Cecil Sharp
Cecil James Sharp was the founding father of the folklore revival in England in the early 20th century, and many of England's traditional dances and music owe their continuing existence to his work in recording and publishing them.-Early life:Sharp was born in Camberwell, London, the eldest son of...
(1859–1924) from a woman in Chipping Campden
Chipping Campden
Chipping Campden is a small market town within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. It is notable for its elegant terraced High Street, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
which is also related to the older carol described as: "The Contest of the Ivy and the Holly", a contest between the traditional emblems of woman and man respectively.
- Holly stands in the hall, fair to behold:
- Ivy stands without the door, she is full sore a cold.
- Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
- Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.
- Holly and his merry men, they dance and they sing,
- Ivy and her maidens, they weep and they wring.
- Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
- Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.
- Ivy hath chapped fingers, she caught them from the cold,
- So might they all have, aye, that with ivy hold.
- Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
- Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.
- Holly hath berries red as any rose,
- The forester, the hunter, keep them from the does.
- Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
- Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.
- Ivy hath berries black as any sloe;
- There come the owl and eat him as she go.
- Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
- Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.
- Holly hath birds a fair full flock,
- The nightingale, the popinjay, the gentle laverock.
- Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
- Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.
- Good ivy, what birds hast thou?
- None but the owlet that cries how, how.
- Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
- Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.
There are indications in other manuscripts that in ancient English village life there was a midwinter custom of holding singing-contests between men and women, where the men sang carols praising holly (for its "masculine" qualities) and disparaging ivy, while women sang songs praising the ivy (for its "feminine" qualities) and disparaging holly. (More of the men's songs have been recorded and survived than the women's, as in the examples above.) The resolution between the two was under the mistletoe
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemi-parasitic plants in several families in the order Santalales. The plants in question grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub.-Mistletoe in the genus Viscum:...
. These three plants are the most prominent green plants in British native woodland during the winter, and for this reason they earned respect from the early country-dwellers and a place in their traditions.
Music
An 1868 collection of carols coupled the words of "The Holly and The Ivy" to an "old French carol".External links
- Free sheet music for piano from Cantorion.org
- Hymns Without Words free recording for download suitable for services
- Steve Roud on superstitions
- "Notes on 'The Contest of the Holy and the Ivy'"
- Hymns and Carols of Christmas
- http://books.google.com/books?id=fukFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA99Ancient Mysteries Described Especially the English Miracle Plays, Founded on Apocryphal New Testament Story, Extant Among the Unpublished Manuscripts in the British Museum, Including Notices of Ecclesiastical Shows, the Festivals of Fools and Asses, the English Boy-bishop, the Descent Into Hell, the Lord Mayor's Show, the Guildhall Giants, Christmas Carols, Etc By William Hone, George Cruikshank]
- Holly and Ivy Songs