The Holly And The Ivy

 

"But Mary treasured all these things, giving careful thought
 to them and pondering them in her heart."
(Luke 2:19)

Madonna and Child

(1450-1465)

Fra Filippo Lippi

(1406-1469)

Italian painter of the Quattrocento

and Carmelite priest

The Holly and the Ivy

Now both are full well grown,

Of all the trees that are in the wood,

The Holly bears the crown.

O the rising of the sun,

The running of the deer,

The playing of the merry organ,

Sweet singing in the quire,

Sweet singing in the quire.

The Holly bears a blossom,

As white as lily-flower;

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,

To be our sweet Savior.

O the rising of the sun,

The running of the deer,

The playing of the merry organ,

Sweet singing in the quire,

Sweet singing in the quire.

The Holly bears a berry,

As red as any blood;

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,

To do poor sinners good.

O the rising of the sun,

The running of the deer,

The playing of the merry organ,

Sweet singing in the quire,

Sweet singing in the quire.

The Holly bears a prickle,

As sharp as any thorn;

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

On Christmas Day in the morn.

O the rising of the sun,

The running of the deer,

The playing of the merry organ,

Sweet singing in the quire,

Sweet singing in the quire.

The Holly bears a bark,

As bitter as any gall;

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

For to redeem us all.

O the rising of the sun,

The running of the deer,

The playing of the merry organ,

Sweet singing in the quire,

Sweet singing in the quire.

The Holly and the Ivy

Now both are full well grown,

Of all the trees that are in the wood,

The Holly bears the crown.

O the rising of the sun,

The running of the deer,

The playing of the merry organ,

Sweet singing in the quire,

Sweet singing in the quire.

The Holly and the Ivy
(1984)
Roger Whittaker
Tembo Records

"The Holly and The Ivy"  is a traditional British folk song.
Sung as a Christmas carol, the Holly represents Jesus and
the Ivy, his mother Mary.  The sharp edges of the Holly
leaves are a reminder of the crown of thorns worn by 
 the Lord at His crucifixion; the red berries represent 
drops of His precious blood, shed for the salvation
 of all people, while the shape of the Holly's leaves
  resemble flames, symbolic of God's great, fiery 
love for mankind, so much that He sent His only 
begotten Son into the world, not to condemn it, 
 but that the world might be saved through Him.
(John 3:17)

Ivy has long been associated with fidelity, or faith.
Here it represents the young virginal woman named
Mary and her humble acceptance of God's will for her life
after a visitation from the angel Gabriel, who announced
that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Son of God.

"Then Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord;
may it be done to me according to your word.
And the angel departed from her."
(Luke 1:38)