Symbolism of holiday decor
Holly's sharp leaves and red berries have long stood for protection and endurance — a plant that stays green and fruiting through the coldest months, when almost nothing else does.
Bells were originally rung to ward off evil spirits during the dark, quiet stretch of midwinter; they've softened into a purely festive sound, but the impulse to make noise against the dark is an old one.
And evergreen boughs, wreaths and trees all point to the same idea: life persisting through winter. Almost every classic decoration on your mantel started as a small act of hope that spring would come back around.
