Holly Jolly Christmas was written by Johnny Marks. The song was popularized by Beryl Ives.
Have a holly, jolly Christmas
It’s the best time of the year
I don’t know if there’ll be snow
But have a cup of cheer
Have a holly, jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet
I don’t see holly much in Wisconsin. It is widely used in New England. When I was younger, my family and I lived on HIghland Street in South Middleboro, Mass. Growing along the wood line were some of Holly trees. Near Christmas we would go and harvest some Holly with its colorful red berries. We had readymade Christmas decorations. But look out for the sharp points on the leaves.
Johnny Marks wrote have a holly, jolly Christmas. Okay so you have holly for Christmas where is the jolly? The meaning of jolly is a little illusive. Its meaning can be found in a popular dictionary. Look it up in https://www.dictionary.com/browse/jolly and you discover that jolly can be in good spirits; lively; merry: cheerfully festive or convivial: joyous; happy: Christmas is a jolly season.
Jolly can be understood as happiness. Happiness is a game. The game evolves. If you are the winner, you laugh and have fun. If you are the loser, well that brings it own rewards. How many people invest in the lottery when the odds of winning are so enormous that your chances are nil.
Happiness is external. It is dependent on what is won or received. The presents are received. The wrapping paper is torn away. The gist is revealed. The game is played, the clothes are worn. In time the game is put in a closet or donated to a charity. The clothes wear out and may be used for rags. What is won or received is temporary.
Joy is internal. Joy is not developed from what is received, but from what is given. The most valuable gift that you can give is yourself. The last three lines of the song quoted above are:
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet
Saying hello is giving of yourself. A smile is giving of yourself. When you are thoughtfully giving someone a present you are giving something of yourself. Giving creates an inner warmth and peaceful joy.
I will not wish you a happy Christmas, I will wish you a joyous Christmas.