A well known English plant, the Christmas rose, is a
true Christmas flower. It is sometimes called the Snow
or Winter Rose. It blooms in the depths of winter in the
mountains of Central Europe. Legend links it with the
birth of Christ and a little shepherdess named Madelon.
As
Madelon tented her sheep one cold and wintry night, wise
men and other shepherds passed by the snow covered field
where she was with their gifts for the Christ Child. The
wise men carried the rich gifts of gold, myrrh and
frankincense and the shepherds, fruits, honey and doves.
Poor 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.
Also in
central and northern Europe it is the custom to break
off a branch of a cherry tree at the beginning of the
Advent and keep it in water in a warm room; the flowers
should burst into bloom at Christmas time.
