The lyric “The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown” completes the opening line of the traditional carol.
“The Holly and the Ivy” is an English Christmas carol that combines imagery from winter plants with Christian symbolism. Holly’s red berries and evergreen leaves made it a natural seasonal symbol in Britain.
The song’s exact origins are uncertain, but versions were collected and printed in the 19th century. Its melody is associated with an older traditional tune.
The wording is sometimes altered in modern hymnals, but “full grown” is the canonical completion of the quoted line.