The Plant of Bacchus

Ivy (Hedera helix) is the traditional counterpart to Holly. While Holly is masculine and prickly, Ivy is feminine and clinging. In Greek mythology, it was dedicated to Bacchus (Dionysus), the god of wine.

Preventing Drunkenness

Paradoxically, while associated with the wine god, Ivy was believed to prevent intoxication. Roman revellers would bind their heads with wreaths of ivy, believing the plant's tight grip would keep their wits bound together and prevent the wine from taking over.

In medieval England, a bush of ivy hung outside a tavern indicated that good wine was sold within ("Good wine needs no bush"), a custom dating back to the Romans.