Holly

Holly is still the most popular of all evergreens used to decorate home at Christmas, although in the past a variety of branches were used.  

Spread out the laurel and the bay,
Fork the chimney-piece and window bay
Scour the brass gear - shining in a row
And holly place with the mistletoe.

Nevertheless the holly must be hung before the mistletoe, otherwise ill luck will come down the chimney on Christmas Day. ~ Josephine Addison

No doubt a function of holly inside the house was to deal not only with demons and witches, but with the house goblins.... Holly and ivy would have subdued the house goblin precisely from Christmas Eve, when the decorations went up, to Candlemas Eve, when the decorations were taken down.  
Geoffrey Grigson
The Englishman's Flora