Holly. Only "free" (smooth) holly used in house
If smooth holly used or brought in first, wife rules; if rough, husband
To be lucky, use rough, smooth, and variegated. White patches on var. holly caused by Virgin's milk spilt on holly brought by shepherds
Smooth holly, ivy, and mistletoe hung behind shippon door before noon on Christmas Day prevents cows miscarrying
Holly masculine, ivy feminine (see Shrove Tuesday)
Ivy. Man must supply maid with ivy or she would steal his breeches (Aubrey)
Ivy alone, or predominating, a bad omen
Yew. Used if not cut from churchyard
Unlucky, portends death during year
Box. Used when procurable
Used in "kissing-bush"
Rosemary. (Obs.). Houses dressed with
Bays. (Obs.) Churches dressed with
Laurel. Used in South of England, esp. Universities, including college chapels; not in North
Holly, box, fir, and laurel, in houses, 1878
LOCALITY.
Salop (Burford).
Locality?
Derbysh.
Derbysh. (Hazelwood).
Kent, Salop.
Oxon. (Launton).
Northants.
Derbysh., Northants.
East Anglia.
Derbysh., Northants. (See below.)
(Aubrey, 1686.)
London (St. Peter Cheap, 1572, 1599), Worcester (St. Michael's, St. Nicholas, 16th and 17th cent.).
Bourne, 1725.
Lines, (nr. Grantham).
