Christmas and Its Flowers

The Christmas Rose is commonly referred to as the Snow or Winter Rose and is a well known English flower. It is considered the true Christmas flower by Europeans and is reported to bloom during winter in the mountains of Central Europe.

The legend associated with it and the birth of Christ goes something like this:  A poor shepherdess who, while tending her sheep, began to weep as she had nothing to bring to the newborn Christ child. An angel passing overhead heard her crying and soon alighted down next to her. The angel lifted the shepherdess's head and instructed her to brush away the snow around her. This the shepherdess did and low and behold there beneath the icy surface was the most exquisite flower she had ever seen. This was the Christmas Rose with its pure white petals tipped with pink. This, then, was her gift to the Infant King. 

Interesting, as well, is that the rose is often associated with Christ as its thorns symbolize his crown of thorns.

And, it is customary in northern and central Europe to break off a branch from a cherry tree at the beginning of Advent (the period of four Sundays before Christmas) and to keep it in water until it bursts into bloom just in time for the holidays.

The Poinsettia was first introduced to the United States by Joel R. Poinsett, who was the first American ambassador to Mexico. Evidently, he was so taken by this indigenous Mexican plant, with its gorgeous red petals and star like shape, that he sent samples back to the US where the plant quickly caught on and soon became assoicated with Christmas as it already was in Mexico being their Christmas flower. Of course, the poinsettia's vibrant red color symbolizes the blood of Christ and its shape is reminiscent of the star over Bethlehem which heralded his birth.