Birth flower for December 24
Holly
Meaning: protection and foresight
Holly is the classic Christmas plant, its spiny glossy leaves and red berries woven into wreaths. Romans swapped holly sprigs during the winter festival of Saturnalia, and Europeans long hung it by the door to keep bad luck out. Plants are male or female, and only females carry berries. The hiiragi hung in Japan at Setsubun is a different plant from the olive family.