The Legendary Christmas Rose 

 

(Artwork by Lizzie Lawson, from “Christmas Roses,” Copyright © 2008, courtesy of Project Gutenberg) 

 

A Rose has sprung from a tender root, From Jesus, as those of old have sung, And it bore a flower, In the middle of a cold winter, When half spent was the night. Isaiah foretold it, the Rose I have in mind; Is Mary the pure, the little flower has brought us.

– Translated from the early 15th century German poem "Es ist ein Ros' Entsprungen," Author unknown.

 

While Christmas in North America is generally associated with the elegant poinsettia, in Europe there is another flower which garners much attention and has some beautiful traditions of its own. 

 

The Christmas Rose (Latin, Helleborus niger) is shrouded in ancient folklore, with tales of its first appearance being the night Jesus Christ was born. An evergreen perennial herb of the buttercup family, with leathery dark green leaves and delicate white flowers edged in pastel pink, the Christmas Rose (or Snow Rose) is a mountainous plant found throughout Europe, from the Swiss Alps to Austria, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia and Northern Italy. It is traditional to plant the rose by the door, so that Christ may be welcomed into the home.

 

Legend states that on the night of Jesus’ birth, a young shepherdess named Madelon saw the procession of Magi bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh to greet the newborn king. Madelon was heartbroken, as she was very poor and could not even find a flower to give as a present. Seeing her distress, an Angel of the Lord caused her tears to melt the snow at her feet and tiny white flowers blossomed. The girl was filled with awe and happily presented her gift at the manger.

 

Even more legends surround this pretty flower. St Agnes, a little Roman girl martyred at the age of 12 for her refusal to marry a prefect, during the time of Diocletian’s 4th century Christian persecution. The Patroness of Purity, Chastity, Betrothed Couples, Virgins and Rape Victims, St Agnes is said to have healed Constance, daughter of Constantine the Great and Fausta, of leprosy. It is also said that the Christmas Rose is symbolic of her purity.

 

But perhaps one of the loveliest stories regarding the Christmas Rose is the tradition of its existence in the days of Adam and Eve, where it was thought to be part of the heavenly gardens and called by the angels “the rose of love.” When Adam and Eve spent their first winter and the angels saw how sad and barren their garden was, they asked God if they might bring the celestial plant to Earth, and so it has been here ever since.

 

Regardless of which myth you choose to believe, if you are thinking of an alternative to the poinsettia, the holly, ivy or mistletoe, you might want to look into the sweet Christmas Rose to add a little holiday cheer.