Folklore of ivy

Ivy symbolizes healing, protection, love, fidelity, cooperation and exorcism, and is the tree of resurrection. Its elemental association is water, and planetary association, Saturn. In folklore, ivy is protective of milk. Wreaths made of ivy, woodbine and rowan were placed over the lintels of cow shelters for this purpose. In Britain, the last farmer to harvest his crops was given a sheaf bound with ivy; this sheaf was called the Ivy Girl, Harvest Bride or Harvest May.

The Green Lady of Caerphilly Castle in Wales is a fairy, one of the Green Ladies (Dames Vertes) who takes on the appearance of ivy when she is not walking through the ruined castles she haunts.

In Trieste, Italy, an ivy branch hanging near a house by the roadside indicates that the dwelling is an osmizze, or wayside tavern or inn. ... Similarly, English taverns used to show over their doors the sign of an ivy bush, to indicate the excellence of the beverages sold within: hence the saying 'Good wine needs no bush'.

A man will have prophetic dreams that show his wife-to-be, by taking ten ivy leaves that were picked on October 31 (Samhain/Halloween) and placing them under his pillow. Another old tradition was to give ivy and holly to newlyweds as good-luck charms. While picking the ivy, the female says, "Ivy, ivy, I love you, In my bosom I put you, The first young man who speaks to me, My future husband he shall be".

In some parts of Athitos (Aphitos; Aphytos), Greece, on the Mediterranean, the St John's Eve custom of jumping through bonfires is sometimes called Klidonas (ivy) because the revellers do so wearing ivy crowns ...