The carrying and draping of foliage and flora in homes at Christmastime originates from pagan worship...particularly that of evergreen plants...practiced by the Druids, who conducted many such rituals during their Midwinter season. Most plants used for holiday decoration, in both ancient and modern times, are favored because they symbolize a quality or emotion important to the basic spirit of the festivities. Since any plant that remained green in the Winter was considered to possess special powers, so evergreen trees, such as the holly, fir and pine...and other plants such as the ivy...were often used as religious symbols.