Christmas comes with a lot of beliefs and superstitions that are rooted both in ancient as well as modern times. Though you follow the traditions and rituals without fail, do you know how it all came into being? Not really! During Christmas decorations, greenery plays quite an inevitable role as it is seen as a symbol of renewed life and endurance. Considered as a traditional element of Yuletide celebrations, greenery used during Christmas mainly comprises of holly, ivy and mistletoe etc. Greenery is traditionally used in the house to ensure that the house stays abundant throughout the coming year. The various evergreen decorative items include garlands, bushes, poinsettia, Christmas cactus, wreaths and many other things that the mind can think of. Just like the other innumerable superstitions associated with Christmas, greenery decorations also come with a unique set of myths and other beliefs. Scroll further to know what this set of superstitions comprises of.
Christmas Greenery Myths & Beliefs
Christmas decorations come with their unique set of superstitions, myths and beliefs. And while some of them may sound hilarious, many are quite interesting to know. Read on for information on myths revolving around greenery.
Christmas Greenery Superstitions
- It was considered bad luck to keep the green decorations inside the house for a long time. There is a different stipulated time in every region within which the decorations must be removed.
- While some regions consider Candle Mass Day on 2nd February to be the day allotted as removing these decorations, others believe in keeping the decorations of current Christmas on till the eve of next Christmas.
- Until the 11th century, it was believed that Christmas greenery, once removed, must be burnt immediately. However, by the 19th century, this belief fell out of practice.
- Children had to accompany elders while they removed all the Yuletide decorations.
- It is believed that whoever finds a holly bush laden with berries, while removing the decorations, found good luck in the following year.
- It is believed that a house would be haunted by one goblin for each pine needle found dropped in the house.
- Bad luck follows the people of the house, if they put up Christmas greenery before Christmas Eve. Also, Christmas greenery, including Christmas trees, should not be brought inside the house.
- Holly is believed to be equipped with supernatural powers that protect the people of the house against witches and lightning.
- According to popular belief, depending on the type of the Holly brought in to the house, the head of the house for the coming year is determined. If it’s a prickly holly then the man of the house is said to stay in command while a smooth one suggests a female dominated year ahead.
- Ivy is considered to have strong protective powers when kept beside the house and it brings bad luck when brought inside the house.
- Despite the superstitions regarding bringing greenery inside the house, it is said that greenery brought into the house from the church brings good luck for the house. It has to be hung in the house for the entire year in order to attract good luck.
- According to some people, the person who picks up a pine needle inside the church or the house is destined to die within the next year.
- Mistletoe is powerful against lightning and witches. It is also a cure against poison, barrenness, whooping cough etc. It is kept intact and hanging with the other old, dried bits and remains all year round, until the next festive season. It must be replaced by fresh mistletoe on the next Christmas Eve.
Christmas greenery stands for a lot more than just decorations; it stands for hope, sustenance and abundance and all the above superstitions take their inspiration from this fact.