Holly and the Ivy

The Holly and the Ivy is a traditional English Christmas carol that weaves together old midwinter symbols — the evergreen holly and ivy — with the Christian story of Jesus' birth. The words appeared in print in the early 1800s, though the carol is older, and the popular melody was collected in Gloucestershire and published by Cecil Sharp in 1911.

Its gentle, folk-like tune is a lovely one to learn, and our Love to Sing choir keeps every verse clear. It's a favorite for carol services, school nativities and Christmas concerts.

Discover more Christian Christmas carols, or pair it with God Rest You Merry Gentlemen and The First Noel.