Holly Napkin Ring Holders

It's been quite the crafter-noon at the Cotter home! We started in on the homemade Christmas decorations after a late night run to the craft store yesterday. The first item on the line up are our holly napkin ring holders.

One of our familiar Christmas carols is the Holly and the Ivy, which is often played without the vocals, so most people don't realize the meaning behind the song. Give it a listen here with the vocals which describe the Christian Christmas symbolism of holly and ivy. The lyrics go a little something like this:

The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown,

Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown.

Refrain:

Oh, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer,

The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.

The holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower,

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet saviour

Refrain

The holly bears a berry as red as any blood,

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good.

Refrain

The holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn,

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas Day in the morn.

Refrain

The holly bears a bark as bitter as any gall,

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all.

Refrain

While holly was originally a pagan symbol of fertility, the Christians "baptized" it by giving it a a new Christian significance. Some early Church fathers like Tertullian protested the idea, but here it remains as a traditional Christmas decoration staple.

Alright enough history, on with the craft.

Here is what you will need to make 1 dozen:

1 sheet of stiff red felt

1 sheet of regular green felt

1 spool of 3/8 in/3 yd gold ribbon

36 red pompoms

Tacky glue

Scissors

12 paper clips

Step 1: Cut the red felt into 12 strips. If you pushed all the strips together it would make a whole sheet of flet, so cut the page up like shown above.

Step 2: Glue a strip of ribbon to the center of each strip.

Step 3: Loop each strip into a circle, glue and hold together with a paper clip until dry.

Step 4: Cut out 24 holly leaves (2 per ring) from the green felt and glue them to the center of the ring.

Step 5: Glue 3 pompoms onto your leaves and let dry.

For a nice conversation starter you can explain the symbolism of holly to your guests!