Evergreens
The custom of decorating houses at Christmastide with evergreen plants-holly, ivy, box, laurel, mistletoe -is sometimes said to have originated when Christianity was introduced into this country, to typify the first British church, built of evergreen boughs. More probably it extends back into antiquity. In Druidic times people decorated their houses with evergreen plants so that the sylvan spirits might repair thither to shelter from the severity of winter, till their leafy bowers should be renewed. Everitt, Mrs.: An English medium who gave private séances so early as 1855. To these sessions were admitted her private friends, and enquirers introduced by them. When a prayer had been said and the lights turned out the spirits manifested themselves by raps, table-tiltings, lights and spirit voices. Mr. Morell Theobald, a prominent spiritualist, was neighbour and friend to Mr. and Mrs. Everitt, and was first attracted to the subject through their instrumentality.