I came to a deeper understanding of the symbolism of the Advent Wreath when trimming the Manse holly tree in Donnybrook a couple of days ago. The thought came to me that the prickly leaves could be useful. I don’t like using slug tox as birds eating slugs killed by those chemicals can be poisoned. In my experience the organic substitutes aren’t much use – and besides, these pesticides dissolve in rainfall and have to be regularly replenished.
However, it is really annoying when a newly emerged luscious seeding like a courgette, or a runner bean is devoured in one of two nibbles of a big fat slug. I had a brainwave when I looked at the vicious thorns on the holly. How would it be if I threaded holly leaves onto a string in order to make a defensive barrier? I found a shoe eye punch, and put a hole in each leaf; tied a fine nail to the end of a piece of string and threaded the leaves together. As I did so the significance of the Advent Wreath dawned on me. Those wreaths, complete with blood red berries are a reminder of the crown of thorns pressed onto the brow of the King of Kings.
I picked a passion fruit off the ground in the magnificent gardens attached to the Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham a few months ago and am surprised to find that they have already germinated. The Passion fruit gets it name from the five stamens on the passion flower and is a reminder of the five wounds of Christ on the cross. Christmas should not be divorced from Easter. We remember the coming (and Second Coming) of our Lord Jesus Christ during the Advent Season; but Jesus came to die. He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed”. My passion flower seedling is now protected by a hedge of holly leaves. Both are reminders of the real significance of Advent.
