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Wildlife Festive Folklore

Image credit: Paul Wyer

Where do many of our traditions come from?

I’m sure that you’re all more organised than I am and so your festive preparations are well underway. However, as you sit down to write your cards, do you ever wonder why so many feature a robin, or why the evergreen holly and ivy deck halls up and down the country?

As with a lot of these traditions we have to go back, way back, to discover how they came about.

Robin redbreast

Let’s start with the robin, I mean they are here all year, which many a gardener can testify to as these opportunistic birds often perch nearby when we’re out digging. But they became a Christmas icon in Victorian times when the postmen wore red tunics, earning them the nickname ‘robin redbreasts.’ The link between the bird and the deliverer of festive cards was formed and the rest, as they say, is history.

The holly and the ivy

The holly tree was the original ‘Christmas tree’ and with its eye-catching evergreen leaves and red berries it’s been used as a decoration as far back as Roman times.

A branch of holly, bright red berries and sharp, waxy leaves

Image credit: Ross Hoddinott

In the pagan tradition the holly is seen as representing the male and the ivy is the female. Just to add more competitive spice than a spicy mulled wine, in certain parts of the country many believed that whichever of these two evergreens entered the house first in winter decided if the males or females ruled the home in the coming year. But bringing either inside before Christmas Eve was considered unlucky – so no good for those of you who put your decorations up after Hallowe’en.

We love the holly for the berries which provide vital food for birds at this time of year, and ivy for providing a great habitat for so many birds and insects, particularly with its late-season nectar. This year we’ve heard of many sightings of the Ivy bee which often gets mistaken for a wasp.

Mistletoe

This saucy evergreen has long been associated with fertility and vivacity by the Druids and in both Greek and Norse mythology.

The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe began in the 1700s but became very popular in the 1800s. We don’t know the exact origins of this custom but it’s likely to stem – pun intended – from the plant’s link to fertility, love and friendship.

Don’t forget the strict rule of one berry given for a single kiss. More importantly don’t forget that the berries are poisonous to humans and many other species, although the Mistle thrush and Blackcap are both big fans.

The ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’

I don’t mean to quibble but whilst you are likely to see partridges at this time of year, they are ground dwelling and nesting birds and so any close association between a partridge and a pear tree is highly unlikely.

Grey Partridge close up to the camera contrasting against bright green grass

Image credit: Dave Appleton

Even more worrying is the fact that the Grey partridge is on the red list as a bird of conservation concern due to loss of habitat and intensive farming practices.

Whilst on the subject of quibbling, why are you singing about ‘Four calling birds’? Originally the lyric was ‘Four colly birds’ as in colly meaning grimy, sooty or coal black, as in the blackbird.

What is clear from taking a closer look at our festive traditions is how rooted in nature they are because of how connected we were to the natural world. I hope that you are able to get outdoors over the festive period by visiting some of our 100+ nature reserves across Beds, Cambs & Northants and develop your own connections.

If you use social media then do tag us in on any pictures of your winter walks at one of our nature reserves.

Incredibly frosty and misty view across a body of water surrounded by frosted trees, a few birds perched on the bank

Image credit: Paul Wyer

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