A little shepherd girl was tending her father's sheep on a hillside near Bethlehem.  As she watched the animals, she saw a group of shepherds hurrying past.  She asked them where they were going, and they told her of the holy child born that night.  They were taking gifts of fruit, honey, and a snow-white dove to the baby.

The shepherds went on, but the little girl stayed behind.  She, too, wanted to see the infant Christ, but she had nothing to give Him.  When the poor shepherdess knelt weeping in the snow, an angel saw her.  As the angel touched each fallen tear, a beautiful pale pink rose appeared in its place.



Joy replaced the girl's sadness, and she quickly gathered the rose blossoms.  Then she ran all the way to Bethlehem.  There she presented the beautiful bouquet to Mary as a gift for her newborn Son. The little girl worshipped the Prince of Peace, bearing the gift of her heart and tears.

Since that time, the Christmas rose blooms each year in December to remind the world of the simple gift of love given by a poor shepherd girl.



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.

Like the legend of the poinsettia the legend associated with the Christmas rose begins with a poor girl wanting to give a gift to the Christ child. In one legend of the Christmas Rose the young girl is named Madelon. She wanted to worship the Christ Child. When Jesus was born in the little town of Bethlehem, there came Wise Men from the East bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When Madelon saw the gifts brought by others who were drawn to the humble birthplace, she despaired that she had no gift to bring, for Madelon was poor indeed.

The little shepherdess, watched from afar, and wept because she had no gift to offer the Christ Child. 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, and her tears fell to the ground.



An angel passing over her stopped to provide comfort and smote the ground that was wet from her tears. Where her tears fell; instantly beautiful white roses sprang up. Madelon hastened to gather them and bring them to the infant. In adoration she knelt at the crib, so Jesus could see the flowers. When and where His blessed little hands touched the petals, a delicate pink appeared.

So a flower that never bloomed before came into existence. The Christmas Rose.

The Christmas Rose blooms more abundantly at Christmas time than at any other season.

"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 worshipped 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.