36 West – Nativity
Thelma L. Fryer – Donor
The Christmas rose, also known as the Glastonbury Rose, is a little white flower that grows in northern Europe during the winter. Just its name alone is appropriate for the time of year when it blooms. Holly, winter berries, and evergreens are on the short list of winter greenery, but Christmas rose is the only real flower that blooms during that time. But why is this flower so important for Christians, and why has it become a major player in Christian art? The answer lies both in legend and symbolism.
Supposedly, on the way to meet baby Jesus, the shepherds and Wise Men were seen by a young girl named Madelon. One by one, every visitor had something to give the baby. In addition to gold, frankincense, and myrrh, Jesus was given all kinds of presents in accordance with the visitor’s ability. Realizing that she had nothing to give, Madelon wept. Then, an angel visited her. It dusted off the snow from the ground. As Madelon kept crying, her tears turned into this beautiful white flower, representing purity.
The well-known hymn “Lo, How a Rose Er Blooming” is a meditation on the season, and it mentions both the Christmas rose and the Jesse tree. This connection is so well-known that Jesse trees are often depicted as the Christmas rose plant.
See also: 27 West – Rose; 30 West – Christmas Rose.
A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. —Isaiah 11:1