Happy Holly Day!

‘Tis the season – the holiday season, that is. Dec. 19 is Holly Day, an annual occasion created by the Queen of Holidays that celebrates, well, holly.

With Christmas just days away, one of the most recognizable Christmas decorations is a flowering plant in the Aquifoliaceae family, a group of about 400 species of shrubs and trees belonging to the genus, Ilex, commonly referred to as Holly. The fruit of the holly, often referred to as berries, range in color from black to bright red.

While the prickly leaves and berries make lovely additions to any holiday décor, eating holly can be bad for your health. The leaves and berries can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and other issues. While toxic to dogs, cats and horses, consuming 20 or more berries can actually be fatal to children.

Whether it’s the lovely Village of Holly, Michigan, the 2006 film"Holly,"

a famous musician with the last name Holly, a famous gal named Holly Golightly or all the fabulous women named Holly, Holly Day celebrates all things holly. Happy Holly Day!