Bunch of Holly (The)

 BUNCH OF HOLLY, THE. Irish (?), Reel. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. Holly is prominent in winter folk traditions of the British Isles, where it was thought that a bunch of holly hung in the cowshed at Yuletide would bring luck for the coming year. On St. Stephens day in Ireland, wren-boys would attach a bunch of holly to a pole along with a dead wren to go collecting from house to house. Simpson & Roud (Dictionary of English Folklore, 2000), record that holly trees were generally believed to be protection against witches and other evils, and thus were planted around churches and houses. One sheltered from thunderstorms under a holly tree as they were 'never struck by lightning', and it is still considered unlucky to cut down a holly bush or tree (a belief the authors say dates back to at least the 15th century). Printed source: Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; p. 64.

X:1 T:Bunch of Holly, The M:2/4 L:1/8 R:Reel S:Howe - 1000 Jigs and Reels (c. 1867) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:G d/>c/ | BB/d/ c/A/A/c/ | B/G/G/B/ d/e/d/c/ | BB/d/ c/A/A/B/ | dc/A/ A/G/G/A/ | BB/d/ c/A/ (3A/B/c/ | B/A/B/G/ d/e/d/c/ | BB/d/ c/A/A/B/ | D/d/c/A/ A/G/G/g/ | (f/g/).a/.f/ .g(f/e/) | (dc/)A/ (A/d/)d | (f/g/).a/.f/ (g/f/).g/.e/ | (dc/).A/ (A/G/)G | f/g/a/f/ gf/e/ | dd/e/ ff/g/ | a/g/f/a/ gf/e/ | dc/A/ A/G/G ||

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