The Legend of the Christmas Rose
The Legend of the Christmas Rose
shared by Lorraine
Part of the color in celebration of the season is the blooming of Christmas roses. While a variety of plants over time have come to be called "Christmas Rose", they all are steeped in a legend that dates back centuries.
The Legend of the Christmas Rose speaks of a young girl named Madelon who wanted to come worship the Christ Child. Seeing the gold, frankincense and myrrh brought by others who were drawn to the humble birthplace, she despaired that she had no gift to bring, for Madelon was poor indeed.
In vain she searched the countryside for a flower that she might bring, but the winter had been cold and harsh - and there were no flowers to be found. Saddened, the girl began to weep. An angel passing over her stopped to provide comfort and smote the ground that was wet from her tears. There did spring a beautiful bush that bloomed of white roses.
"Nor myrrh, nor frankincense, nor gold," said the angel, "is offering more meet for the Christ Child than these pure Christmas Roses." And thus young Madelon went her way and worshiped the Prince of Peace, bearing the gift of her heart and tears.
The Legend of the Christmas Rose also has some foundation in this 15th Century poem:
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.
>From God's eternal wisdom, she bore a child,
And remained pure.
The Flower, so small, whose sweet fragrance fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True man and truer God, helps us out of all sorrows,
Saves from sin and death.
Oh Jesus, until we leave this misery,
Let your help guide us into joy,
In Your Father's Kingdom, where we eternally praise You.
Oh God, allow us this.
Translated from the early 15th century German poem
"Es ist ein Ros' Entsprungen."
Author unknown.
Categories: Special Entry,Featured Fans
One of my favorite christmas stories. as I told you, I gave a report on that in school, had heard it on the radio( no TV at the time)...remember "radio days"? Thank you for sending this story. It is beautiful.
Yes, very beautiful indeed! Thanks so much, it's a wonderful poem and story.
Hello Everyone!!!
Lorraine, wonderful work! Great job!
love,
Sarah
Glad you enjoyed it…Thank you Sally for giving this beautiful story its own page! Shirley, would have loved to have heard your report at school. I CANNOT TAKE ANY CREDIT FOR THIS WORK. I was lead to it myself when my brother sent me a Christmas CD of Swedish music. My brother’s wife is Swedish and we have enjoyed Swedish Christmas traditions for many years because of her. The CD is one of Christmas music by Orphei Dränger. I loved two songs in particular, one of which, was the Christmas Rose. My brother sent me the story from a different source. I continued to investigate and found this one. If you are lead to follow the thread of the Christmas Rose…you will learn that the poem or lyrics originated from Köln, Germany in 1599. The music was written by Herbert Howells an English composer who I only just discovered and should be more well known than he is. His music is beautiful. Howells was inspired by both Thomas Tallis (an important early music composerchurch) and by Handel. This particular song, according to my brother, was my own dad’s favorite. He was brought to tears by it, always. My dad probably remembered his own father singing it in the Troisdorf Men’s Choir. If anyone is interested in the background of this music and of the true words to the song …which besides being entitled a Christmas Rose is also entitled a Spotless Rose, here are some sources of further information. The words to the Spotless Rose are much more true to the original Poem from Köln. It give much importance to the Old Testatment prophecy about the coming of the Messiah in the Book of Isaiah…(Sally, Sarah and Shirley, I’m sure you guys know all about this). Any music that stays true to the meaning of Christmas is very special these days. These words were received by me in the mail last week…, I thought them to be so excellent that I would share them with you guys. “I’m reminded of how the world we live in today is, in many ways, similar to the world Jesus was born into. Jesus was born in a time and place where there were wars and rumors of wars…where His own people, the Jews, were living under the dominion of a hostile military regime, and they were seemingly powerless to change their situation.
Into This Dark and Uncertain time, God sent His only Son Jesus, the Light of the World, to fulfill the greatest promise ever made – that of sending a Savior who could forgive men’s sins, change their hearts, and bring them eternal life. The truly good news of Christmas!
Poem source: http://ingeb.org/spiritua/esistein.html
Music source: http://www.fasindy.org/Programs/ChoralColors/Howells.html
Scandanavian/German Christmas album/Orphei Dränger (it is gorgeous)
The Spotless Rose can also be seen and heard on Rick Steves, dvd or cd, A EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS…
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT…anyone wanting to participate in a Swiss, Norwegian, Italian (Tuscany), French, Tyrolean Christmas should not miss this one! For sale on Amazon.com.
MERRY CHRISTMAS2All!
Thank you Lorraine - that is beautiful! I hope your Christmas will be beautiful too. Hugs
Jeanine-Anne, you are so welcome...i need hugs today...L
Lorriane, you "need hugs today"?
{{Lorraine}}... there you go!
thank you Prudence, i felt those! L
Hi Lorraine!
This is a beautiful story the legend of the Christmas Rose and thank you for sharing it and educating me to its meaning . I am putting together a children's reading with Christmas Music for a service, would it be possible to include this beautiful story in the program if you don't mind? I think they will love it and to sing an appropriate song with it.
of course, Martha. the story nor the music is mine! there are some websites above where you can get even more info!i'm so glad you like it! Lorraine
Lorraine, as I remember the "radio story",I believe the child (in this story) was a poor shepard boy, but the story line was the same.When I first heard it on the radio(abt 1950) I was so impressed that when our English teacher ask us to do write a Christmas story, I wrote that one from memory.As my luck would have it, I was called upon to read "my story" in front of the class! Now knowing me back then & how shy I was it would usually been a disaster, but this time I was unusally calm.As I read the story you could hear a pin drop. I'd NEVER heard that class so quite before, especially Tommy, "the unruly one", but he, along with everyone else,gave me rapt attention as I read. When I finished there was not a word uttered for a few seconds. Then Tommy spoke up and said"Well,YOU certainly didn't write that one"! I turned around andquitely said" No, Tommy, I didn't but I heard it on the radio". In trying to "put me down"he only caused the teacher to say"Shirley, that was lovely and you have earned an A+ for your reading of it". That was one of those "yes" moments I'll always remember.
i think it was a shepard... i read another version, forgetting now where of a shepard-ess...that is probably the original....one can research it on the web...i'm on the fly ...show tomorrow...will do so next week. L