Most of the plants we associate with the holiday season are from Europe or the Mediterranean. We know the holly, ivy, mistletoe, christmas rose, rosemary, hawthorn, bay and of course, evergreens while the New World is represented in Christmas legend by the poinsettia. What are the legends and lore surrounding these common plants ?
Hawthorn.
The Glastonbury thorn is connected with Christ's death as well as his birth. Legend has it that soon after the death of Christ, Joseph of Arimathea came to Britain to spread the message of Christianity. As he lay down to rest from his weary journey, he pushed his staff into the ground beside him. When he awoke, he found that the staff had taken root and begun to grow and blossom. From that day onwards - every Christmas Eve the white thorn buds and blooms.
There is a tradition in England that a branch of the Glastonbury Thorn is taken and displayed each year in Buckingham Palace.
Rosemary is another plant with extensive holiday traditions, symbolism, and legends and associated with remembrance, friendship, and fidelity. Floors of churches and homes were strewn with the herb and the traditional boar's head for the Christmas feast was decorated with rosemary.
Two rosemary legends relate directly to the Christmas story. Rosemary flowers were originally white until one day during the flight to Egypt, Mary draped her blue cloak over a rosemary bush. The rosemary flowers turned blue and the whole plant took on the beautiful colour and fragrance of Mary's cloak. Similarly, in another legend, Mary dries the baby Jesus's clothes on a fragrant bush. The plant's name, rosemary, and its blue flowers are in remembrance of its humble service to the Holy family.
Christmas Rose. The helleborus nigra which flowers at Christmas time is a reminder of the purity of the Virgin Mary. A Spanish legend tells us of a young shepherdess named Madelon. As Madelon tended her sheep one cold wintry night, wise men and shepherds passed by the snow covered field where she was, with their gifts for the Christ Child. The wise men carried the rich gifts and the shepherds, fruits, honey and doves. Madelon began to weep at the thought of having nothing, not even a simple flower for the Newborn King. An angel, seeing her tears, brushed away the snow revealing a most beautiful white flower tipped with pink - the Christmas rose
The pointed leaves of the Holly represent the thorns of Christ's Crown. The green leaves represent eternal life, and the red berries represent the blood of Christ. It is said that holly was used to make the crown of thorns. At that time the berries were yellow. In honor to the blood shed by Christ the berries turned red. According to another legend, when the Holy Family was fleeing into the desert from Herod, they hid the baby Jesus in a holly bust. At that time, the leaves had fallen as the holly was not an evergreen. Mary prayed for protection, and the leaves grew - a deep green to hide and protect the baby Jesus.
Chrysanthemum comes from the Greek meaning "golden flower," but a German legend refers to another of the many colours of chrysanthemums
One cold, snowy Christmas Eve in the Black Forest, a peasant family was sitting down to a scanty supper when they heard a wailing. At first they thought it was the wind, but after listening for a while, they opened the door and found a beggar. They ushered in the poor man who was blue with cold, wrapped him in blankets, and shared their food.Instantly, the blankets were shed, revealing a man in shining white clothing with a halo around his head. Proclaiming himself the Christ Child he fled. The next morning, outside the door where he had stood, were two white chrysanthemums. Today, many German families bring white chrysanthemums into their homes on Christmas Eve, following the tradition of sheltering the Christ Child.
In central and northern Europe it is the custom to break off a branch of a cherry tree at the beginning of Advent and keep it in water in a warm room. The flowers burst into bloom at Christmas time
Poinsettia. Another charming story of a child bearing a gift is that of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy. "I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable ," said Pedro consolingly.
Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.
As she approached the alter, she remembered Pedro's kind words: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable." She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene.Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes.
From that day on, the bright red flowers have been known as the Flores de Noche Buena, Flowers of the Holy Night.
Susanna Duffy is a Civil Celebrant, grief counsellor and mythologist. She creates ceremonies and Rites of Passage for individual and civic functions, and specialises in celebrations for women. http://celebrant.yarralink.com
If you*re like me, the holidays always have a way... Read More
Some people hate to see Valentines Day come around. Some... Read More
Many of us are probably squeezing out our brains to... Read More
The glorious egg, with its deep links to Creation mythology,... Read More
Mr. Incredible and Elastiwoman to the Rescue. The Incredibles based... Read More
Going on a family vacation can be considerably more expensive... Read More
Patty Lovelace Country MusicVerse #1 Through the back window of... Read More
The Christmas tree is a much loved symbol iinstantly calling... Read More
Country Christmas Idea: Milkweed Pod Poinsettia OrnamentsAt first glance, milkweed... Read More
Christmas dinner probably the most elaborate and complex dinners you... Read More
This is my daughter's first Christmas. Naomi will be nearly... Read More
"Here's to the bright New Year, and a fond farewell... Read More
Have the holidays become too commercial for you? Are you... Read More
No matter how many lists you make, cards you send,... Read More
Fun, though they are intended to be, The Holidays can... Read More
There are as many as eight possible Valentines Day origins... Read More
If you are like me, you never know what to... Read More
Anniversary parties are a wonderful way to celebrate two people... Read More
Even with modern technology like email and cell phones, printed... Read More
The holidays will be here before you know it. Clear... Read More
Years of having to make do have turned me into... Read More
I was not planning to write this article. Instead, I... Read More
First, a disclaimer:This article requires information about John the Baptist,... Read More
Bar Mitzvah celebrations have grown exponentially in size and scope... Read More
From the time I was a very little girl, I... Read More
Some time ago I received a gift from both of... Read More
As we enter into the month of November my thoughts... Read More
Here are 7 classic kid birthday party game ideas that... Read More
The most beautiful dyes for Easter eggs come from foodstuff... Read More
Here it comes again - the Holiday Army - in... Read More
Father's Day...Father's Day only one month away! Father's Day is... Read More
Christmas time is finally here, and most people during this... Read More
Kids take their birthdays very seriously, and are extremely disappointed... Read More
Being alone is a challenge for many people. This challenge... Read More
Father's Day is just around the corner. If you're looking... Read More
Valentine's Day is just around the corner which of course... Read More
Gazing the wide stretched blue carpet, with blows of zephyrs... Read More
What a great time of year! It's a time to... Read More
Is there really a Santa Claus? Any parent who hasn't... Read More
Maybe your significant other is overseas in the military. Maybe... Read More
I am going to make a bold statement. I think... Read More
The glorious egg, with its deep links to Creation mythology,... Read More
So Valentine's Day is upon us yet again, and most... Read More
Mother's Day is May 8th. And, you do realize all... Read More
It can be very hard to find that one perfect... Read More
When it comes to Halloween there's no lack of variety... Read More
Do you know someone who is absolutely crazy about polar... Read More
Sometimes gifts that are truly from your heart have no... Read More
The oldest Valentine card still in existence was sent in... Read More
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and the... Read More
I have walked through a countless number of stores searching... Read More
The last Monday of May since 1868, has been designated... Read More
Mr. Incredible and Elastiwoman to the Rescue. The Incredibles based... Read More
So Christmas is a few months away. Seems like a... Read More
Even with modern technology like email and cell phones, printed... Read More
The majority of people find themselves carrying additional fat once... Read More
Mothers Day is the day we set aside each year... Read More
1. Santa Spends More Than He MakesSanta's paychecks are nothing... Read More
Bunnies & chicks, colourful eggs, and the hunt for hidden... Read More
After some recent reports it seems that 90% of all... Read More
Choosing gifts for any animal lovers can be quite a... Read More
Abraham Lincoln said ? "All that I am, or hope... Read More
As we reach the time of year when Christmas items... Read More
Have you seen the prices of greeting cards lately? It... Read More
You're tired. You've worked hard all week. Suddenly, the kids... Read More
Mother's Day is, in many countries, a day for celebrating... Read More
Holiday |