Holiday Countdown
Day 12: Plants
Author: Ella Fei Flesher is a a freshman double majoring in Environmental Science and Anthropology and minoring in Classical Studies and a Museum Advisory Council member.
Evergreen vegetation is the primary type of plant you see this season due to their adaptation to cold temperatures and overall resilience.
What is the science behind their adaptation?
The needles of pine and spruce trees are thicker and have less surface area to reduce loss of water. The leaves are also covered in a waxy coating to prevent further water loss. These plants also have a process to create a barrier around the exposed areas of their needles to keep the interior cells protected from freezing.
But what are the origins of these coniferous plants? And why do we value them?
Many Christmas traditions include plants. The origin of the Christmas tree began in Europe and stemmed from the belief that evergreens contained godlike powers and thus symbolized immortality and protection.
Historically, specifically in ancient Rome and Greece, holly bushes were sacred and said to have similar protection powers since the plants were so resilient. Therefore they were seen as good luck and were often sent as gifts of goodwill. According to Iowa State University’s Horticulture department, “Romans also decked their homes with holly to avoid detection and persecution by Roman authorities.”
Kissing under the mistletoe is also tradition. Its origins are said to be traced to a tale in Norse mythology in which mistletoe was the only plant unaffected by a goddess’s magic. In some modern interpretations, mistletoe is a symbol of love and resilience. Nowadays, superstitions about kissing under the mistletoe are about increasing the possibility of marriage in the upcoming year.
Poinsettias were first introduced to America by Dr Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first US ambassador to Mexico. They have become a symbol because of their star shape and bold red color.
