The ancient peoples decorated their homes with holly and ivy at the time of the shortest day of the year. These plants kept their leaves during winter, and were therefore unusual in Ireland’s ancient deciduous woodlands.
Because of this, they were seen to symbolise life, and provided people with hope during the long winter days.
Trees featured prominently in the lives of people dating back to the ancient Celts. Individual trees and woods were considered to be sacred. The oak, ash and yew were some of the more sacred trees.
An Irish law of the 8th century set out penalties for damaging privately owned trees. Penalties included the payment of two cows for cutting down an oak tree, and the payment of a sheep for cutting a branch of a hawthorn.