A French Christmas - Holly

Thanks to my friend in Virginia, my home was filled with beautiful holly this year. I love its dark, glossy green leaves and beautiful red berries. I placed it throughout my home but used most of it outside to decorate my patio.

 

Holly under lanterns and in kindling basket at Christmas.

 

Both here and in France, holly is a widely accepted symbol of Christmas. The legend surrounding holly is that when Jesus and his family fled Egypt, and as the soldiers of Herod where about to catch them, the holly extended its branches out to hide Jesus and his parents. Mary blessed the holly, announcing that it would remain eternally green as a symbol of hope and immortality.

Joyeux Noël, Mitty