Holly Day Date in the current year: December 19, 2024

Holly is a genus of flowering plants that includes over 570 species. Some are evergreen, while others are deciduous; some are shrubs, while others are trees; some grow in the tropics, while others prefer temperate climates.

The best known species of holly is the common holly, also known as European holly, English holly, or Christmas holly. It is an evergreen shrub or tree native to western and southern Europe, northern Africa, and southwest Asia. Holly is one of the few native hardwood evergreen trees growing in Britain.

Holly is easily recognizable due to its bright red berries, which are produced only by female plants and mature around October or November, and glossy green pointed leaves. Although holly berries are eaten by various animals, they are toxic to humans due to containing alkaloids; they are also toxic to cats and dogs, so you should be especially careful when decorating your home with holly if you have small children or pets.

Holly has long been associated with festivities. In ancient Rome, holly was one of the attributes of the Saturnalia, an annual festival in honor of the god Saturn celebrated around the winter solstice. It was also considered a sacred plant in ancient Celtic cultures; druids regarded holly as a symbol of eternal life and fertility, and believed that it brought protection and good luck.

Following the advent of Christianity, holly became associated with the celebration of Christmas, especially in the British Isles, where it features heavily in folklore, and in North America. According to Christian tradition, its red berries symbolize the blood of Christ and its pointed leaves resemble the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’s head before his crucifixion. The plant is used in Christmas wreaths and garlands, depicted on Christmas cards, and mentioned in Christmas carols and songs.

Holly Day was created by Jace Shoemaker-Gallway, a freelance author and editor known by the nickname the Queen of Holidays. During her career, she has written thousands of articles about various holidays celebrated around the globe, as well as created a few holidays of her own.

Holly Day, observed annually on December 19, is intended to help us get into the festive spirit and prepare for Christmas. You can join the celebration by reading about holly and its symbolism, decorating your home with holly, singing carols that mention holly (“Deck the Halls”, which we quoted at the beginning of this article, is a classic), and watching Christmas movies. And don’t forget to spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtag #HollyDay.

Holly Day is not the only holiday celebrating Christmas plants. For example, National Christmas Tree Day, also created by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway, is celebrated on December 8, and National Poinsettia Day is observed annually on December 12. Some sources also claim that December 1 is National Mistletoe Day, but there is very little verifiable information about this holiday.