christmas at wyke manor

Well, what a year it has been! And, as a result, Christmas 2020 might well be the strangest that most of us have ever known. Certainly, it’s doubtful that we will get to celebrate with our extended family and friends. Christmas at Wyke Manor looks like it will be a bit different this year. Our thoughts are with all of you who will not be having your usual enormous family gathering, big work celebration, or get together with old friends.

holly, ivy and mistletoe

Our new collection of Natural Christmas Gifts for Christmas 2020

So, this festive season seemed the right time to launch our brand-new collection of Natural Christmas Gifts by post! We’ve been working hard to develop our natural Christmas gifts for a few years now – meaningful natural products that can be safely sent by post and fit through your loved one’s letterbox. Therefore, we hope our Mistletoe Kisses and Holly Hugs (yes – really!) might help you send some love and festive cheer to those you can’t meet up with.

Mistletoe is famous as a good luck kissing plant! And we just couldn’t resist the idea of a bright and beautiful holly hug. Nevertheless, we really don’t recommend that you actually try this, as is rather too prickly to be comfortable! But the name was just too good to pass by.

Inspired by nature

Winter is a calm season time on the farm, and we take the time to make our plans for next year. Most of our crops are dormant, or not yet in the ground, but some plants do flourish… The natural beauty of the season is sparse, but in many ways it’s simpler to enjoy. That is to say, when the trees and hedges have lost their leaves and the ground is bare you can spot the ivy flowers, red berries of holly, pinecones, teasels and giants rounds of mistletoe quite easily. Their sculptural forms contrast so nicely, especially on a frosty day! So, we’ve taken that inspiration and developed some Natural Christmas Gifts from the treasures of the season.

We are lucky to have lots of old orchards across the Wyke Manor Estate. And many of these beautiful apple and pear trees are all full of mistletoe! Worcestershire is one of the few places in the UK where this festive plant is in abundance. We are also nurturing a new holly plantation on the farm. Holly’s beautiful red berries make it a popular natural Christmas decoration! But we also hope that it will provide a wonderful place for winter walks and a great feeding spot for wild birds.

See more of the Wyke Manor Estate throughout the seasons on our Pinterest board.

orchards full of mistletoe and sheep on the Wyke Manor Estate
wyke manor estate - bridge meadow in the snow
a holly bush
  • Send some love to a special friend or to family that you can’t meet up with this Christmas 2020.

  • They can hang the sprig or mistletoe above a doorway or in the entrance porch and claim a kiss from anyone stood underneath it.

  • Each mistletoe berry represents a kiss that the recipient can claim!

  • Mistletoe also symbolises good luck and can be left hanging in the home to protect your loved one throughout the coming year.

  • Holly’s shiny leaves and bright red berries are a cheerful Christmas decoration you can send to a loved one you are missing this Christmas.

  • Evergreen holly helps remind us that life flourishes even in the difficulties of midwinter. It is a wonderful symbol of hope and strength in these strange times.

  • Our Holly Hugs should also ward off any mischievous spirits! If your friend hangs the holly on their door or garden gate the prickles will catch any bad luck and stop it from entering their home.

holly hugs
  • Holly’s shiny leaves and bright red berries are a cheerful Christmas decoration you can send to a loved one you are missing this Christmas.

  • Evergreen holly helps remind us that life flourishes even in the difficulties of midwinter. It is a wonderful symbol of hope and strength in these strange times.

  • Our Holly Hugs should also ward off any mischievous spirits! If your friend hangs the holly on their door or garden gate the prickles will catch any bad luck and stop it from entering their home.

  • Holly and Ivy – a pairing made famous by the jolly Christmas carol – makes a lovely natural Christmas gift for a loved one.

  • Ivy grows up and over other plants, becoming intertwined with them. That is to say – it needs support as it grows. Sending this gift is therefore a lovely way to send symbolise your support of a loved one this Christmas 2020.

  • Ancient Celts brought evergreens indoors to provide a haven for woodland spirits through the winter months! Certainly, ivy is thought to ward off misfortune and bring protection and luck.

holly and ivy

More Fun Folklore and Facts about Natural Christmas gifts and decorations

holly berries
a bunch of mistletoe

Christmas 2020 opening hours –

We’ll be closing the Confetti Office for Christmas at 3pm on Friday 18th December 2020. We will open up again for the new year on January 4th 2021. Consequently, if you need anything posted out in between these dates – please just get in touch. We are very happy to help!

Above all, we wish you all a wonderful Christmas. Take care.

With love from The Petal People xxx

Written 17/11/2020