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Show Holly Decoration Used In Pagan Celebrations Holly has become closely associated associ-ated with Christmas, but why, nobody no-body knows. Some claim that holly, with its thorns and blood-red berries, sym-i sym-i bolizes the crown of thorns worn by the Saviour. Another belief is that the use of holly as Christmas ! decorations was handed down by the pagans. The Romans dedicat-! dedicat-! ed the plant to Saturn to be used : at the Saturnalia, his festival, oc-curring oc-curring in December. At about the same time the early Christians cele-' cele-' brated the birth of Christ, and to j protect themselves from prosecu-! prosecu-! tion. they decorated their homes j with holly. |