The Holly Tree
The holly tree – an evergreen plant representing eternal life.
Holly is used as decoration at Christmas time.
A wreath with holly, red berries and other decorations began from at least the 17th century.
O Holy Night
The holly leaves
When Jesus was crucified (nailed to a cross), a crown of thorns was placed on his head.
Holly, with its sharply pointed leaves, symbolizes the thorns in Jesus’ crown of thorns.
The red berries
Jesus was nailed on a cross to die. This is known as the crucifixion. The red berries of the holly tree symbolize the drops of Jesus’ blood.
Evergreen
The evergreen holly tree does not lose its leaves in autumn. This symbolizes everlasting life which is promised to those who believe in Jesus.
The holly tree symbolizes the crown of thorns, the red blood Jesus shed on the cross and everlasting life and these three things are very important to the Christian faith.
Jesus died for us and if we believe in him we will have eternal life.
The Bible says
Mark 15:16-20
The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”
Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him.
Then they led him out to crucify him.
Romans 5:6-8
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.