The Holly King

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

The Holly King is – according to many sources on the web – the aspect of the Green Man or Horned God of Celtic mythology that rules over the waning year, from midsummer (the summer solstice) to Yule (the winter solstice). (Of course, the Celtic name for the winter festival is not "Yule", which is a word of Scandinavian origin.)

The Holly King represents withdrawal and rest, a time for reflection and learning. His tree, the holly – tinne, , the seventh letter of the ogham alphabet – has leaves that are evergreen and its bright berries glow red when all else is bare of fruit. As the cold weather approaches and other trees lose their foliage, the holly trees stand out in their full beauty in the barren landscape. Thus while the Holly King's reign is one of withdrawal culminating in apparent lifelessness, he symbolically holds life in trust while it rest.

At Yule he is defeated in a ritual battle by his twin, the Oak King, who rules over the waxing year, from Yule to midsummer.

In one interpretation, the Oak King both crowns and sacrifices the Holly King. Yule, then, is the Holly King's "farewell feast" – as well as a celebration of the reborn sun.

According to Graves, it is the holy-king, or green knight, who appears in the old English "Christmas Play", as the Fool who is beheaded but rises up again unhurt. This is also the eponymous Green Knight of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (text; Wikipedia).

The story begins at King Arthur's court at Camelot on New Year's day (which might be read as the winter solstice). As Arthur's court is feasting, a stranger, the gigantic Green Knight, mounted on horseback, armed with an axe, and carrying a spray of holly, enters the hall and lays down a challenge: one of Arthur's knights may take the axe and strike a single blow against the Green Knight, on the condition that the Green Knight will return the blow a year and a day later. (If this were following the tradition exactly, this would be six months later!)

Gawain diffidently accepts the challenge and chops off the giant's head. The Green Knight, still alive, picks up his own head, reminds Gawain to meet him at the Green Chapel in a year and a day, and rides off. Hence, Gawain – the youngest of Arthur's knights – has played the part of the Oak King.

Holly and mistletoe are traditional to the winter festival season through commemoration of the Yule battle. The holly was hung in honour of the Holly King; the mistletoe (which, although it grows on many trees, is traditionally associated with the oak) in honour of the Oak King.

The Oak King represents expansion and growth, a time for healing, and new projects. His tree, the oak – dair, , sixth letter in the ogham alphabet – symbolizes strength and longevity. At Yule, the Oak King begins to establish his renewed supremacy, although this won't peak until midsummer, when the oaks will be in full leaf again.

However, oak trees are deciduous, going into a dormant state during the winter months. So at midsummer the battle is fought again, and now the Holly King defeats the Oak King. Note that it is at the time when each king is in his full strength and splendor that he is defeated by his opponent!

Even though it may seem natural to associate the Holly King with winter and the Oak King with summer, the kings do not rule over seasons as such: clearly, winter does not begin at midsummer, nor summer at Yule. In the Celtic calendar, the beginning of winter and summer were marked by the lunar fire-festivals of Samhain (around the end of October) and Beltane (around the end of April).

According to Matthews;

The lunar festivals concerned with pastoral and agricultural events rather than the movement of the sun through the seasons. […] At Samhain, beasts were rounded up and brought into stockades for wintering over; exces livestock was slaughtered, since they could not be kept alive during the hard months of cold and dearth of grain. At Beltaine, herds were driven out into summer pasture, for the last of the frosts were safely over and livestock could be fattened up without fear of wolves. However, in one version of the tradition, the Holly King is associated with winter, being (re)born at midsummer, his strength grows through the summer and fall, peaks at Samhain, then he weakens and fades away at Beltane. Similarly, the Oak King is associated with summer: he is (re)born at Yule, waxes more powerful through the spring, peaks at Beltane, then wanes until Samhain, when it is his turn to pass away.

Although the evidence is scanty, it may be the Holly King that stands behind the figure of Father Christmas – think more of Charles Dickens's Ghost of Christmas Present (should that be Ghost of Christmas Presents?) than the Coca-Cola-influenced Santa Claus, who has a different origin altogether.

And, of course, the figure of Terry Pratchett's Hogfather…

"Hail the Holly King" by Inkubus Sukkubus
Lyrics and music by Tony McKormack

All across the virgin snow
And through the naked trees
On a cold winter's night
His song is on the breeze
Where the moonlight paints the frost
Upon the robin's song
He's come a-calling for us all
Now the summer's gone!

Hark! Hear the children sing
Glory to the Holly King
Let the jingle bells all ring
Hail, hail the Holly King

In the whiskey and in the wine
He is here this Yule-tide time
A-dancing in the home-fire flames
A-dancing, singing, playing games
When the prayers are to the East
He is with us at the feast
His crown is nailed to the door
He's with us forevermore!

Underneath the mistletoe
He is in all lover's hearts
He fans the flames of desire
'Tis he who fires Cupid's darts
He is in all children's dreams
Dressed in red or dressed in green
Riding on the astral sleigh
He's the spirit of the day!

From the album Vampyre Erotica (1997)

"Holly King" by Lady Isadora
Lyrics by Lady Isadora; sung to the tune of "Noël Nouvelet", also
known as "Now the Green Blade Riseth"

Sing we of a Mystery
Now as long ago
Blood-red holly berry
Blood upon the snow
Oak King shall rise
The Waxing Year to bring
Therefore bid we farewell
To the Holly King

Now in deep midwinter
All seems in a trance
Comes the golden Oak King
In His age-old dance
Comes He to slay
Yet honor He does bring
To His fallen brother
The darksome Holly King

In the bright midsummer
The Year Wheel's turned around
Then shall be the Oak King's
Blood upon the ground
Ever it comes
Once more the Year's Waning
Then shall be victorious
The darksome Holly King

Sing we of a Mystery
Now as long ago
Blood-red holly berry
Blood upon the snow
Oak King shall rise
The Waxing Year to bring
Therefore bid we farewell
To the Holly King

From the album The Queen of Earth and Sky (1990)

"Ring Out Solstice Bells" by Jethro Tull
Lyrics and music by Ian Anderson

Now is the solstice of the year,
Winter is the glad song that you hear.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Have the lads up ready in a line.

Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.

Join together beneath the mistletoe,
By the holy oak whereon it grows.
Seven druids dance in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.

Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.

Praise be to the distant sister sun,
Joyful as the silver planets run.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.
Ring out those bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Ring on, ring out.
Ring on, ring out.

From the albums Songs from the Wood (1977) and The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003)