Behind the Tradition: Mistletoe

The Christmas season is renowned for its traditions, from lighted trees to gorgeous holiday wreaths and poinsettias, to holly, ivy, and mistletoe…oh my! But how did mistletoe transform from a “cure all” plant to an object under which couples kiss at Christmas? What is Mistletoe? Nat King Cole sang about it: “Everybody knows a turkey […]

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Behind the Tradition: Holly and Ivy

Holly and icy are familiar, though understated, holiday plants. Used to adorn homes during the winter and holiday season, holly and ivy have been a staple in homes since long before the birth of Christianity. In modern days, we use holly and ivy as decorative accents in our homes to freshen the air and add […]

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Behind the Tradition: Roses

As Valentine’s day approaches, the feeling of love is in the air. Here’s a look behind one of the biggest symbols of the season: The Rose. The Symbol: Roses are probably one of the most prevalent and widely recognized symbols of love in Western culture. They appear in poetry, literature, artwork, films and in every […]

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Behind the Tradition: Christmas Wreaths

Did You Know? The ancient Druids are the first society in known history to have worn holly and mistletoe. They believed that Holly was sacred because it remained green all year due to magical properties. In the Persian Empire, wreaths were worn as headbands and believed to be a symbol of importance and success. Ancient Greeks […]

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Behind the Tradition: Poinsettias

Did You Know? Poinsettia plants are native to Central America, especially an area of southern Mexico known as “Taxco del Alarcon” where they flower during the winter months. The Aztecs referred to them as “cuetlaxochitl”. They had many uses for poinsettias, including using the flowers to make a purple dye for clothes and cosmetics and […]

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Behind The Tradition: Easter Lilies

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin and yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” – Jesus Christ, Sermon on the Mount Ever wonder where Easter Lilies come from? (Besides our greenhouse, of course!) They were rumored to be at […]

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