The Holly and the Ivy

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Holly and ivy
The Holly and the Ivy - flute
The Holly and the Ivy - piano

The Holly and the Ivy ( The Holly and the Ivy ) is a popular traditional English Christmas carol .

The holly , with its spiky- toothed leaves and red berries, represents Christ's crown of thorns with its spiky leaves , the red berries are reminiscent of his drops of blood. According to Christian ideas, the evergreen plant illustrates "the immortal life that Jesus conveyed when he wore the crown of thorns".

The most famous version of the song today was first published by Cecil Sharp . Another version is found in Christmas Carols New and Old by Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer . It has been edited many times, including by Walford Davies , Reginald Jacques , Matthew Owens and John Rutter (see sound samples).

It can be found in many Carol collections, such as the Oxford Book of Carols (in a version by Martin Shaw ) or 100 Carols for Choirs (in a version by Walford Davies).

The original symbolic content of the anonymous song is associated with fertility rites :

"The symbolism of this anonymous carol relates to ancient fertility mythology and the association of the male with holly and good and the female with ivy and evil. It may have accompanied some sort of ritual mating dance. "

Melody from The Holly and the Ivy , first published in Sharp, English Folk-Carols (1911)

text

English translation

The holly and the ivy,
now are both well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
the holly bears the crown.

Refrain:
Oh, the rising of the sun
and the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
sweet singing in the choir.

The holly bears a blossom
as white as lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
to be our savior sweet

chorus

The holly bears a berry
as red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
to do poor sinners good.

Refrain

The holly bears a prickle
as sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
on Christmas Day in the morn.

Refrain

The holly bears a bark
as bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
for to redeem us all.

Refrain

The holly and the ivy,
Are now both fully grown;
Of all the trees in the forest,
the holly alone bears the crown.

Refrain:
O, the rising of the sun
and the jumping of the deer,
The happy playing of the organ,
the sweet singing of the choir.

The holly bears a flower
As white as that of a lily
And Mary gave birth to the sweet Jesus Christ
So that he might be our sweet Savior.

Refrain

The holly bears a berry
As red as all blood
And Mary gave birth to the sweet Jesus Christ
So that he can do good to poor sinners.

Refrain

The holly has a thorn
As sharp as every thorn;
And Mary gave birth to the sweet Jesus Christ
on the morning of Christmas Day.

Refrain

The holly has a bark
As bitter as any bile;
And Mary gave birth to the sweet Jesus Christ
To redeem us all.

refrain

See also

Web links

Videos

References and comments

  1. ↑ In the choir book Carols for Choirs , Volume 1, it is located in the church year under “Lent / Christmas / Epiphany”. ( cpdl.org )
  2. ↑ Church year - Christmas. Evangelical Lutheran Dreiköniggemeinde, Frankfurt am Main - Sachsenhausen
  3. ↑ carols.org.uk : The Holly and the Ivy
  4. ↑ wolaver.org ( Memento of the original from November 10, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 1.1 MB; grades) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.wolaver.org
  5. ^ Rupert Christiansen: The story behind the carol: The holly and the ivy . telegraph.co.uk
  6. ↑ Cecil J. Sharp: English Folk-Carols . Novello, London 1911 ( imslp.org ).
  7. ↑ d. H. in winter: the holly remains green in winter
  8. ↑ d. H. the crown of thorns