Enduring properties of ivy for Christmas

IN spite of all the new-fangled, plastic decorations, people still like to adorn their homes with ivy and holly at Christmas, writes Donal Hickey

Collecting these plants in wooded areas has been a custom for countless centuries, and arose from a superstition that when the plants were displayed on the door, or inside a house, they warded off evil fairies.

The ivy is always the easiest and most straightforward part of the collection ritual, as only red berry holly is accepted by most people. And how is it that the berries are often found at almost unreachable places at the top of holly trees? Both plants are evergreen and, for that reason, help brighten the landscape on the grey days of winter, when most other trees have shed their coats. They also offer a sense of hope, reminding us that spring and the new life it brings are not too far away.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without holly which, for some people, is as much part of the festive season as the candle, or the crib. There is an old belief in rural areas that lots of red berries on holly indicate a harsh winter, with the profusion of berries being seen as food for birds struggling to survive in bad weather.

Ivy is a versatile climbing plant that grows well in damp Irish conditions, producing tiny roots on its stems which tightly grip the surfaces it climbs. It can also spread out over ground and can blanket large stretches of woodland floor.

It can be easily trained to grow in a certain way, or to cover some unsightly areas of a garden, for instance. It is also an invaluable plant for wildlife, giving cover to nesting birds and being home to a wide variety of insects.

It flowers in the autumn and is a rich source of late nectar to creatures like hoverflies and bees. In the depths of winter, when other food is scarce, the swollen black berries of the ivy ripen, providing welcome sustenance for woodpigeons, thrushes, robins and black-caps, according to Ireland’s Wildlife group.

There are references to ivy in the ancient classics. Greek priests often presented wreaths of ivy to newlyweds and it has traditionally been regarded as a symbol of fidelity and friendship. Herbalists have used remedies derived from ivy leaf to treat a range of complaints, including bronchitis, whooping cough, arthritis, rheumatism, and dysentery.

Extracts of the herb were also applied externally to treat lice, scabies and sunburn, while the black berries were said to cure jaundice, kill intestinal worms and even prevent the plague.

Thousands of years ago, ivy formed not only the poet’s crown, but also the wreath of the Greek god of wine, Dionysus. The Greeks believed that circling the forehead with a band of ivy leaves warded off the effects of drinking excess alcohol. May be something worth trying in the season that’s in it!