Feast-day for the Holly King

About this poem:

This poem draws on folktales about the winter Holly King and his adversary, the Oak King who rules during summer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_King_and_Oak_King

Often depicted surrounded by holly and other evergreen plants, the Holly King represents the darker, colder half of the year. He is believed to be at his strongest at Midwinter, hence the origin of the idea of a feast-day for the Holly King at this time of year in my fantasy world of Gonderille. I imagine the characters singing this song to the Holly King as they gather boughs of evergreens, preparing their houses for the Midwinter feast-day. I've included the poem towards the end of my novel when the characters celebrate the passing of evil and enjoy time with their family as they return home.

Although winter can be a bleak time, here I draw on Victorian plant symbolism that gives holly connotations of homely happiness and Christmas joys.





Feast-day for the Holly King:



The days for valour are over and better days have come.

For what is more glorious than happiness, than happiness at home?

So light up your halls, stoke up your fire and deck the beams with holly.

Glossy evergreen,

Proudest to be seen,

Each winter-long scarlet berry

Announces to all, "Gather round, for now is the time to make merry."



All huddle round like birds to seed to chatter and to please,

To mend and make, fiddle with chores, rummage in attics, or rest at ease.

Long awaited by bird and beast the crowning glory of holly.

Glossy evergreen,

Proudest to be seen,

Each winter-long scarlet berry

Announces to all, "Gather, round for now is the time to make merry."



Returning from the gathering across the chill snowfalls,

Heady with spices the feast beckons in the ruddy glow of our halls.

Flame red berries brightening sparkling snow, we greet the king of holly.

Glossy evergreen,

Proudest to be seen,

Each winter-long scarlet berry

Announces to all, "Gather round for now is the time to make merry."



So out with you now, bright holly to win,

Festive to look at, prickly to touch, careful how you take it in!