Christmas Botany Series- Rosemary, Herb of Remembrance


Plants are a major source of the symbolism we use to celebrate our winter holiday seasons. Plants provide us with an unlimited supply of virtues which we seek to incorporate into our belief systems. Over centuries and eons we have adopted certain plants and types of plants as reminiscent of the tenets and events that are our religious beliefs. These "traditional" plants then become a very real part of the religious beliefs we hold. Our winter holidays seemingly abound with this botanical symbolism in a much greater proportion than any other time of year. Perhaps we are all to eager to grasp the "paradise lost" that autumn has wreaked upon us. Thus we greedily adopt the remaining signs of life available to us as our refuge to see us through the long winter night.

Whatever the reason, our winter holidays provide us with an abundance of plant symbolism that we eagerly bring into our homes. In these articles I will touch only briefly on the each of the many botanical delights that we use as Christmas décor. Yes, much of this is borrowed and adopted from other religions. But the symbolism embodied is very real to the Christian practitioner, just as it is very real to the originating religion. In many cases the symbolism is amazingly similar in its true meaning. As Christianity spread, it was very malleable. It annexed many of the customs and practices of the cultures it adopted- The use of flora being one of the most adopted customs.

Herbs are intricately woven into Christmas tradition. Several are brought to us directly from the biblical Christmas tale itself. Myrrh and Frankincense were of course given to the infant Jesus by the Magi. Other herbs such as Sage, for immortality and domestic happiness; Lavender, a symbol of purity and virtue; horehound, representitive of giving good health; rue, as a symbol of grace and also banishes evil; thyme, a symbol of bravery; and costmary, also called bible leaf, represents everlasting life- all have also become associated with the holiday. But perhaps the best known herb associated with Christmas is rosemary.

Rosemary is a tender perennial shrub herb that is steeped in the Christmas tradition. Several variations of the rosemary legend are told, all of which revolve around Mary the mother of Jesus and her draping of a garment over the rosemary plant. One version tells that during the Holy Family's flight to Egypt, Mary draped the child's garment over a nearby bush- that of the rosemary shrub. It was sporting its usual white bloom at the time, which then turned blue in honor of the Christ Child. A variation of this theme indicates that it was her own cloak, which was blue that was draped over the shrub. The color blue is traditionally associated with the Holy Mother in the Christian church and some say the flower is blue in deference to her.

The copyright of the article Christmas Botany Series- Rosemary, Herb of Remembrance in Plants & Trees is owned by Wesley Ford. Permission to republish Christmas Botany Series- Rosemary, Herb of Remembrance in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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