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.