because it represents the Crown of Thorns that the Savior will wear during His Passion. The holly has little sharp points all around its edges, much like a thorn and one can easily prick a finger ...

The Crown of Thorns - comprised of a circle of rushes encased in a crystal and gold tube - was brought back to the cathedral in a ceremony overseen by the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich.

Catholics gathered in Jerusalem on Friday, the first Friday of Lent, to remember an event from the Bible ... thorns were meant to mock him for claiming to be the "king of the Jews." The crown ...