Berry Xmas

Barley, a dog, stands in front of a holly tree, its signature red berries visible on the branches.

It’s only this season, in taking this picture, that it occurred to me why holly is a decorative aesthetic associated with Christmas. This particular holly tree is an imposing presence in my parents’ yard, but most of the year, its dark leaves provide a kind of camouflage. Then, quite suddenly toward the end of November, its bright red berries begin to appear, just as the surrounding deciduous trees have dropped their leaves. I had not made the connection before now that holly (and its bright red berries) are a Christmas theme because they’re one of the only fruiting plants to have such a striking appearance. It’s not holly that’s associated with Christmas; Christmas is the innovation that’s associated with holly’s vastly more ancient life cycle.