CHRISTMAS LORE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 14, 14 December 1932, Page 14

CHRISTMAS LORE

FLORAL FABLES OF THE SEASON. There are a number of legends connecting flowers with the birth of Christ, and here nre a few of them, well known and perhaps otherwise. Sainfoin—i.e., Saint Foin—or “Holy Hay” is believed to have cradled the Infant Christ in the manger. The snowdrop is the flower of the Virgin Mary, and is said, to be the emblem of the candles she lighted on Christmas Eve. . . The Christmas rose was Divinely created. A shepherd maid wept at having no gift to lay before the Babe in the Manger. Suddenly an angel appeared before her— The angel spoke, his voice was low and sweet As the sea’s murmur on low-lying shore, Or whisper of the wind in ripened wheat. On hearing why the maiden wept, he touched the ground where her tears had fallen, with the branch of lilies which lie carried, and immediately the placo wns white with Christmas roses, which the maid gathered and laid in the manger. THE STAR-RAYED FLOWER. The chrysanthemum, which was born at the same time as the “Babe of Bethlehem,” wns the token to the Wise Men that they had reached the spot where the star hud bidden them, for as they searched along the nnrrow ways of the village, toward the fall of night, these rulers of tribes wondered what should be disclosed to them. There was no excitement among the people; all wns silent and gloomy, when at a word from King Melchior the caravan stood still. “It is the place,” he cried. “For look! Here is a flower rayed like the star which has guided us, and which is even now above our heads.” As Melchior bent and picked it the stable door opened of itself and the pilgrims entered in. King Melchior placed the chrysanthemum in the Hand extended to receive it—the Hand of a little new-born Babe. THE LEGEND OF ROSEMARY. Miss Flora Klickmnn in “The Carillon of Scarpa” writes:—“We have a legend which says that when Christ was an infant His Mother, having washed His baby clothes, spread them to dry on some bushes by the wayside. They were very commonplace little shrubs that no one valued, with inconspicuous flowers and no scent. But later, when she gathered up the little garments, a wonderful perfume clung to them, unlike any known flower. Turning back to examine the bushes she found that every leaf and even tho stems gave out the richest scent, while the back of each leaf was shining with silvery light. To this day on rosemary you see the silver on the underside of scented lenves.”