The Holly and the Ivy by L. Edna Walter
The Holly and the Ivy praises the holly's blossom, berry, prickle and bark, each likened to Mary bearing Jesus Christ for sinners' good and redemption, closing by naming the holly crown of the wood's trees.
By L. Edna Walter · First published 1866 · Genre: Religious/Spiritual, Christmas Carol/Hymn, Folk Song/Traditional Music · 246 words
First lines
[Music]
1. The Holly and the Ivy / Now both are full well grown; / Of all the trees that spring in wood / The Holly bears the crown; / The Holly bears a blossom / As white as lily flower, / And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, / To be our sweet Saviour, / To be our sweet Saviour.
2. The Holly bears a berry / As red as any blood; / And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ / To do poor sinners good. / The Holly bears a prickle / As sharp as any thorn; / And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ / On Christmas day in the morn, / On Christmas day in the morn.
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Genres
- Religious/Spiritual — Core narrative centers on Jesus Christ's incarnation, Mary's role, and Christian redemption through explicit theological statements and symbolism.
- Christmas Carol/Hymn — Explicitly commemorates Christ's birth on Christmas day and follows traditional carol structure with verse repetition and liturgical purpose.
- Folk Song/Traditional Music — Exhibits characteristic features of folk music including simple rhyme scheme, repetitive structure, nature imagery, and transmission as an oral tradition.
- Poetry — Composed in verse form with consistent meter, rhyming couplets, and metaphorical language throughout.
Tags
carol · hymn · poem · Christmas · nativity · Jesus Christ · Mary · redemption · salvation · atonement · incarnation · sin and grace
What this Textopian page supports
The Holly and the Ivy is listed on Textopian as a poem by L. Edna Walter, dated 1866 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: L. Edna Walter
- Date: 1866 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious/Spiritual, Christmas Carol/Hymn, Folk Song/Traditional Music, Poetry, Allegory
- Length: 246 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Holly and the Ivy by L. Edna Walter
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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