While there are some 400 species of Ilex, English Holly, Common Holly, or European Holly as it is variously designated, I. aquifolium, is native to Europe, North Africa and Western Asia
All too often we are told that holly was held by druids to symbolize the sun and so taken into dwellings during winter months. Truth be told, there exists little firm knowledge of how the Celtic priests practiced their religion. In fact, judging by such rare observations as Caesar’s Commentaries and archaeological excavations they were a blood thirsty lot prone to torture, slavery and general mayhem, not much different from certain holy practices in later, more modern times, enough to create hagiophobia.
