Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-01-01
CHRISTMAS LEGENDS.

ChEiss ono flowers THAI CaDe Late EE-
iEtsnOS - Hts Birth.
Many lowers are believed TO have sprung
into existence the night en- which the
Christ child was born
In France there is a pretty legend of tho
rose colOred S-ain -foin. When the babe
was lying In his Manager, this plant was
among the grass and herbs which COM
posed his bed, but suddenly It opened It's
pretty blossom and formed a wreath for
his head
The black heilebore, or Christmas ro.e,
is also called Christ's herb because Il flow
ereth about the birth of our Lord Jesus
Christ"
In Sicily the children put pennyroyaI In
their cots on Christmas eve because it al
ways flowers at the exact time OF Christ's
birth.
In the east the rose Of Jericho is said to
blossom at Christmas, close at Good Fri
day, or the crucifxion, and open again on
Easter, or the resurrection morn.
The peasantry in Spain believe that rose
mary brings happiness with its perfumes
on Christmas eve because the Blessed Nir-
gin hung the little frock of Jesus TO dry
upon the rosemary bushes
The yariegated thistle known as Our
Lady's thistle was SO called because of the
Virgins hulk which dropped on it when
nursing fsSSs Its healing qualities are
attributed TO this
The snowd-op, or "fair'' flower, of Feb
ruary blooms in memory Of the time when
the Vi-sin presented Jesus In the temple.
The pretty little wayside flower known
| Is "Lady's Bedstrand'' was 50 called be-
cause Mary made the manager bed of it.
The sycamore attains its great vitality
| ho 1,h, oGor,c
say, It Is the tree of Joseph and Mary and
sheltered them in their flight into Egypt
The Star of Bethlehem was so called be-
cause OF it's resemblance to the star which
guided the Magi
The rose of Jericho Il also called Mary
rose. It sprung up wherever the Blessed
| Virgins feet touched the earth on her way
to Egypt
The Juniper, which Is sacred among the
Celtic peoples, received its wonderful pow
ers because when Herod's soldiers pursued
the holy fsmily the juniper opened her
branches and covered them from sight.
Another legend tells that the cross was
made nom juniper wood
The pine, hazel, fig, date, palm and rose
mary are all attributed with virtue as the
shelters of the holy family.
When they passed through the forest. al
the trees bowed in reverence; only the as
pen remained erect and arrogant So tbS
Holy Child pronounced curse, and ''ai
the sound Of his voice the aspen began *
tremble through all her leaves and has not
ceased to tremble TO this day"
There came not q breath Of wind Through the
trees
Then why did the aspens shiverf
, Another version is:
Once, as cur Saviour walked with men below
( His path of mercy through forest lay,
| And mark how all the dropping branches shov
r What homage best silent tree may pay
Only the aspen stood erect and free,
Scoring to join the voiceless worship pure.
. But see He cast one look upon the tres.
Struck TO the heart, she trembles cvermore.
An old legend tells that by the fountain
where Mary washed the swaddling clothe
of the Holy Child beautiful flowers an
bushes sprang up.
In Italy the lupine is said to be curse
by the Virgin because when she carrie
the Holy Bambino through a field the
rustled 50 loudly she feared that robber
were following her to XII the Holy Child
Another version tells that they all with
: cred and fell fiat, and when she found on
her mistake she blessed them, they grey
{ erect and bore tenfold better produce tina
!, before
The brooms and chickpeas rustled an
cracked so loud that they brought Herod
y soldiers near, and Mary CURSED them
e A Spanish legend tells that the hol
family came TO an orange tree guarde
II by an eagle The Virgin begged an orsDs
for the Hey Child The eagle mirac'
lousy fell asleep and the Virgin plucke
three oranges-one for Jesus one for j,
j. seph and one for herself.
A Roumanian story is something IL
/ same, but of apples The Christ Child
Is restless and win not sleep. The Virgi
!, gives him her apple; then he throws b
d own upward and it becomes the moon, II
q other and it becomes the sun. Then q
Virgin knew that he was Lord Of heavC
ss and earth.-Philadelphi Ledger.