Folklore of the Virgin

With the dawn of Christianity, the early missionaries discovered they could attract more converts if they did not eliminate all of the customs of the heathen's religion, but rather adopted and adapted that which they could accept without compromising their own faith. Flowers and other foliage were only two of the many compatibles taken into the Christian faith.

Mediaeval legend asserts that the first roses appeared miraculously at Bethlehem as the result of the prayers of a fair maiden who had been falsely accused and sentenced to death by burning. The tale can be read in the sixth chapter of Sir John Mandeville's Travels.

In Christian symbolism the Rose is associated with the Virgin Mary, one of whose titles is "The Mystical Rose." (It is also the attribute of particular female saints who carry roses in either their hands or caps: St. Therese of Lisieux scatters red roses and St. Rose of Lima wears a crown of roses.)

Some rose given to the Virgin follow and can be found in the Divine Office of the Common Rite of the Roman Catholic Church:

Rose of martyrs - Rose soothing the afflicted - Rose giving back the destiny of salvation - Rose white by virginity - Rose ruddy by trampling vices - Royal virgin of David's rose - Rose white in seeking virtue - Flowers of the roses in springtime - and, Rose white in loving God.

Flower immagery, from the scriptures and nature, was applied to Mary not only in church liturgy, but in the popular religious folk traditions of the folklorists.

Folklore records certain flowers above all others that are associated with the Virgin. Only a few are named below:

Clematis

Columbine

Impatiens

Hair-bell

Foxglove

Canterbury bell

Lady-slipper

Roses

AND

This riddle, Cuddy, if thou can'st, explain...

What flower is that which bears the Virgin's name,

The richest metal joined with the same?

Surely you guessed...

The Marigold

Until next we meet, Slitzweitz, from Dubh Sidhe and all of the Little People.

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