AIES THE HOLLY AND THE IVY GR 3

• Grade Level 3
• Year: 2019
• Composer: James Curnow

This brief energetic setting of this Christmas carol strives to capture the joy and celebration at Christmas of our Savior's birth.

Holly, especially the variety found in Europe, is commonly referenced at Christmastime. The sharpness of the leaves helps to recall the crown of thorns worn by Jesus; the red berries serve as a reminder of the drops of blood that were shed for our salvation; and the shape of the leaves, which resemble flames, can serve to reveal God's burning love for His people. Combined with the fact that holly maintains its bright colors during the Christmas season, it naturally came to be associated with the Christian holiday, and these characteristics are portrayed in the verses of the carol.