It is the season of red and green; poinsettias and mistletoe, holly and ivy, evergreen garlands, boughs and wreaths, and of course the quintessential holiday showpiece, the Christmas tree. Even citrus and pineapples have their place as traditional holiday symbols. Have you ever wondered how it all started?

Many of today's holiday symbols date back to pre-Christian times and winter solstice observations. Frequently experts and historians can only speculate upon the origin of a symbol or its adaptation into Christmas traditions.

One such example is the holiday color scheme of red and green. One source concludes these holiday hues were borrowed from evergreens, in particular, holly. The bright red berries and glossy green leaves of the thriving holly plants stood in stark contrast to the snowy white coat and defoliated bleakness of European winters.

Other vivid seasonal contrasts were fruits and flowers. In the earliest of time of winter solstice and Christian celebrations, the availability of fruits and flowers were generally confined to warmer climates, such as Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal.

Citrus, oranges in particular, represented the sun and its triumphant victory over winter's darkness. Its sweet flesh symbolized the promise of spring's return and warmth. Its use was incorporated into the Roman winter solstice festivals. By Victorian times, inhabitants of northern Europe eagerly decorated their garlands, wreaths and homes with citrus. However, although attainable, citrus was a luxury. It was frequently the prized treat found at the toe of stockings.

One fruit embraced by Colonial Americans for holiday decor was the pineapple. Due to its rarity, the pineapple was reserved for the upper class and became a symbol of the elite. As the pineapple became more readily available, the pineapple symbolized friendship, welcome and hospitality. Today, the pineapple remains an important holiday decoration in many southern U.S. homes.

Another colorful Christmas standard providing both red and green is the poinsettia. Indigenous to Central America and tropical Mexico, the original poinsettias grew to heights of 10 feet in their natural habitat. In its natal lands the poinsettia is a symbol of purity.

In the 17th century the Franciscan priests in southern Mexico were the first to incorporate the plant into Christmas festivities. Over time a legend grew up around the poinsettia. It is said this lowly plant was lovingly placed as a humble gift before a nativity scene. As a reward for this expression of faith and devotion the poinsettia was transformed into brilliant displays of red and green. As a result, the poinsettia was designated as the "Flowers of the Holy Night" or "Flores de la Noche Buena."

The incorporation of the poinsettia into U.S. Christmas decoration is credited to Dr. Joel R. Poinsett. This Greenville, S.C., botanist served as the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, from 1824 to 1829. Enamored by the plant, he sent specimens to his home. Following their cultivation, his poinsettias were sent to other U.S. botanical gardens.

Today's poinsettia is a hybrid. In 1923 Southern California horticulturists began selective breeding of the poinsettia. Then in 1963 poinsettia cultivars were perfected as potted plants. This further enhanced its popularity as a Christmas season decoration.

Accompanying the brightly colored holiday fruits and flowers was and is the evergreen. Pre-Christian beliefs found throughout Europe claimed evergreens were magical. They were viewed as mystical because they thrived during even the harshest of winters. They were revered symbols of life's triumph over death; the return of the sun and the promise of the coming spring.

One evergreen closely associated with Christmas is mistletoe. At one time, it was considered sacred by the Druids. Toxic to its host plant and humans alike, this parasite was sought out for medicinal purposes and especially as an aphrodisiac. Sprigs of mistletoe were fastened over doorways to ward off evil and provide good luck and good will. Anyone who passed under the mistletoe received a kiss of friendship from the homeowner.

These kisses of friendship turned into affection by the 1800s. In England when a young lady found herself under mistletoe with a gentleman, she would be kissed properly. Following that kiss the gentleman would pick a berry or two from the mistletoe. Once depleted of its berries, the English believed, the mistletoe lost its romantic spell.

While mistletoe brought the sexes together, the legend of holly and ivy generated conflict and competition between the genders. Ivy was considered to be evil, clinging and female. The holly with its prickly leaves was a symbol of goodness, strength, masculinity and the dominant of the two plants.

Eventually, this battle of the sexes was redefined by the English. According to their folklore the prickly holly represented men and the smooth-leafed variety represented women. The legend stated whatever type of holly was first brought into a home on Christmas Day would determined who would be head of the household in the new year. And, if it was the female variety, that household would be in for a rough year. Fortunately that folklore waned over time. Holly and ivy grew in popularity as holiday decor primarily because of their availability and holiday toned colors.

If evergreens were considered magical by pre-Christian Europeans who began many of today's holiday traditions, this is especially true of conifers which were also considered to be talismans against evil spirits and energies. When conifers were formed into garlands, the symbol of longevity and wreaths, the symbol of eternity, these winter solstice decorations were thought to also bring good luck. For Christmas celebrations, the garland and wreath were translated into representatives of Christ's life, resurrection and immortality.

The grande dame of holiday conifers, the Christmas tree, also has its roots in pre-Christian winter solstice festivities. The Germanic tribes placed fir trees in their homes and burned fir boughs to welcome their mythical domestic goddess and her blessing upon their households.

The contemporary Christmas tree is also Germanic in origin. Inspired by legends of conifers blooming in tandem with Christ's birth, Germans were the first to decorate their Christmas trees by the early 1500s. Their "Christbaum," "Christ tree," was laden with confections, religious symbols and small gifts. It was their custom to allow the children to devour the candies on the last day of their Christmas observation which was Epiphany or the 12th day of Christmas. The Germans were also the first to add lighting, via candles, to Christmas trees around 1660.

The German immigrants brought their Christmas tree tradition to the United States. The first documented Christmas trees in this country date to the 1820s.

As in their earliest days of origin and form, traditional Christmas decorations of today continue to add warmth, joy and promise to the season.