The Holly and the Ivy

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"The Holly and the Ivy" is a traditional Christmas carol, which is among the most lightly Christianized carols of the Yuletide—the holly and the ivy being among the most familiar Druidic plants. "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).

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.

[edit] 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 savior

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

Another version of the refrain's second line is:

The playing of the merrier gods, sweet singing in the choir

This is as quoted from the BBC radio series The Song Carriers, by Ewan MacColl. He said it further emphasised the song's pagan roots.

[edit] Origin

The music and most of the text was collected by Cecil Sharp from a woman in Chipping Camden, Gloucestershire. This carol is probably related to an older carol: "The Contest of the Ivy and the Holly", a contest between the traditional emblems of woman and man respectively. The chorus repeatedly emphasized the Medieval attitude of male supremacy.

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.

[edit] References

• Steve Roud (2004). A Pocket Guide to Superstitions of the British Isles. Penguin. ISBN 0-14-051549-6. 
• Steve Roud on superstitions
• "Notes on 'The Contest of the Holy and the Ivy'"
• Brendan Lehane and the Editors of Time-Life Books (1986). The Book of Christmas (The Enchanted World). Time-Life Books Inc.. ISBN 0-8094-5261-8. 
• Hymns and Carols of Christmas