From the Manger to the Cross - The Robin's Story

From the manger to the cross . . . Some animals at the Nativity also played background roles throughout Christ's life leading to the events of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. The Bible specifically mentions the donkey, rooster, and the dove in the Crucifixion and Resurrection stories.

A touching folk legend tells about the robin's presence at the Crucifixion. On Good Friday, a robin was feasting on morsels dropped by travelers and traders near the gates of Jerusalem. A strange commotion attracted its curiosity. A throng of soldiers and common people were shouting and throwing stones at three men carrying crosses.

The curious robin followed the crowd to Calvary, where it saw two of the men strapped to crosses. The third man was nailed to a cross. The kind, weary eyes of this man caught the robin’s attention.

The robin flew to the man with the kind eyes and tried to pull the nails out of His bleeding hands. The little bird tugged and tugged, but even with all its might, its beak was not strong enough to loosen the nails. Unwilling to give up, the little bird flew to the man’s head and began pulling out the thorns piercing His forehead. Some soldiers tried to kill the robin with stones, but a centurion warned them not to harm the little bird.

The robin stayed with Christ until His death. Shortly before His last breath, Christ blessed the robin with a red breast. The bird’s breast feathers, stained with Christ’s blood would always remain red as a sign that people would forever remember the bird’s compassion, courage, and love.

For more stories about the donkey, rooster, and dove, read Menagerie at the Manger, which follows the stories of these animals from the manger to the cross during the Lenten season.

Legends of the Lilies

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;
They toil not, neither do they spin:
Yet I say unto you,
That not even Solomon in all his glory
was arrayed like one of these.
Matthew 6:28-29


Historians believe the biblical mention of “lilies of the field” actually refers to the many wildflowers that grow in Israel, in particular to the crown anemone. The flower we know as the Easter lily can easily fit the biblical description of a splendidly dressed flower. The genus lilium contains about 80 varieties of these glorious plants used primarily for decoration and cultivated for over 3000 years. Surprisingly, the lily’s family tree includes such relatives as asparagus, yams, aloe, garlic, leeks, and onions.

Easter season brings forth several legends and folklore about the lily and its religious significance. The popular lily we use today to celebrate Easter is not the Madonna lily of old. An American tourist brought the lilium harrisii to the United States in 1875 from Japan. It was named for the florist who made it popular.

The growth cycle of the lily symbolized the Resurrection story: the seemingly lifeless and ugly bulb is buried in the ground, later to be reborn as a glorious white trumpet-like flower. Its white color symbolizes the purity of Christ and the joy of the resurrection while its trumpet shape suggests the angel Gabriel’s trumpet call to rebirth and resurrection

Folklore stories allege that many plants received their special identities and characteristics because of their association with Christ or the Virgin Mary. The Roman Catholic Church adopted the Madonna lily to represent and honor the Virgin Mary because its pure white exterior symbolized her purity while its gold-sprinkled interior represented her supreme value and worth. The stamens and pistils, the reproductive organs of the plant, were often removed to make the plant truly pure for the church altars.

One legend claims that lilies were originally yellow. One day, as the Virgin Mary was walking to the temple to worship, she bent down to pick one of the blossoms. At her touch, the flower changed to the pure white we recognize to day in her honor. Joseph, who was walking with her, was also touched by this miracle for his staff began to grow a bouquet of the white lilies.

Another legend tells of the disciple Thomas who was away at the time of Mary’s death. Consistent with his reputation as one who had to see in order to believe, he demanded that her tomb be opened so that he could view her body as proof that she had really died. Reluctantly, the other disciples obeyed his request. To everyone’s amazement, they found her tomb filled with lilies and roses, the flowers traditionally dedicated to her. As they stood in wonder, a Madonna lily appeared at Thomas’ feet. When he looked up, he saw Mary floating above him.

A less common lily, the red lily from Caucasus has the tendency to droop its head. It was originally believed to be white. As Christ walked through the Garden of Gethsemane on his way to pray, all the flowers bowed in reverence. The lily knew she was exquisitely beautiful with a powerful fragrance. She wanted to be noticed by Christ as he walked through the garden. She did not bow as He passed her. To her surprise and embarrassment, He stopped and gazed directly at her. She suddenly became ashamed of her pride and conceit and blushed a deep red and lowered her head. To this day, this is how the red lily presents itself.

With such amazing transformations and miracles, the lily became a charm to ward off evil and to counter the devil’s acts of mischief, which were believed to be especially prevalent and potent during the superstitious Middle Ages. It was a common belief that just by inhaling the perfume of the flower, one could overcome and undo the deed of evil forces.

Cross Timbers of the Cross

Ancient legends claim that at the time of the Crucifixion, the dogwood was a tall, stately, and sturdy tree, much like the noble oak. For these reasons, it was chosen to be the wood for the Crucifixion cross.

When it learned its destiny, the dogwood became greatly distressed at being used for such a cruel purpose. But, Christ recognized the dogwood’s great sorrow and forgave its participation in His death by decreeing the dogwood would never again attain the height to be used as a cross. Instead, it would always be bent and slender.

Its delicate white blossoms in the spring would represent the cross, with two long and two short petals, each with small, reddish-brown indentions like nail prints in the outer edges. The brown color represents the nails used on the cross, and the red, Christ’s blood. The stamens gathered in the center resemble the crown of thorns as a reminder that Christ is king.

Although more commonly associated with the Christmas season, the holly and mistletoe are also credited by some legends with roles in the Crucifixion. One legend claims the holly sprang up beneath Christ’s footsteps as He walked to the crucifixion. Its red berries represent His blood. Other legends claim that the crown of thorns Christ wore on the cross was actually made of holly. Its berries were originally white, but became stained red when the sharp leaves pierced His skin.

The wood of the holly is hard and even-grained, perfect for construction. Unfortunately, it shares the stigma of being used for the Crucifixion cross with the mistletoe and dogwood.

Of the three trees mentioned in legends about the cross, the mistletoe suffered the most severe punishment. It was banished from the earth for its role in Christ’s death. Once a magnificent tree, it could only return to earth as a small, spindly parasite, depending on other trees for its survival.

The redbud tree also shares in the tragic legends of the Easter season. Often referred to as the “Judas tree,” the name comes from the biblical reference that Judas hanged himself on a flowering tree after he betrayed Christ. The redbud flowers during the Easter season and fits that description.

Throughout its lifespan, the redbud remains a lightweight tree with a bonsai-like profile in the landscape. Its branches seldom grow strong enough to support a person’s weight. But, the name Judas tree may actually be a mispronunciation for Judea’s tree, another reference to the redbud because it commonly grew in the region of Judea.


Read more about legends of the mistletoe and holly in Decking the Halls ~ The Folklore and Traditions of Christmas Plants.

Pansies are Forever

How do you entertain a wiggly little girl visiting her great-grandparents’ museum-like home with lots of look-but-don’t-touch temptations? What do you do with her bursts of energy and giggles when the quiet game or books and crayons just don’t work anymore? How did people amuse children before television and computer games?

My great-grandfather’s solution was to take me by the hand and lead me outside where he had a bed of pansies in the center of his backyard. There he would kneel down, pick some of the delicate flowers he was so proud of, and tell me fanciful tales about the blossoms with petals like bright happy faces. In these magical fairy tales, the pansies became queens and princesses dressed in elegant gowns with a full court of ladies-in-waiting.

My favorite story was about a royal family. The king sat at the center of the pansy, according to my great-grandfather. His wife and four beautiful daughters were the five petals of the blossom. They always dressed in rich, elegant colors and liked to show them off to everyone. They loved the king so much they crowded close to his throne to be near him.

Occasionally they would leave the king to go on exciting adventures. As each one left, my grandfather would gently remove a petal and give it to me. I could touch the soft, velvety texture of each petal as he continued the story. After the queen and all the daughters had left, I could see the fat little king (actually the pistil and stamens of the flower) who had been hidden by the fancy skirts of his wife and daughters. What wonderful seeds my grandfather planted in my imagination with stories like this!

As I grew older, I realized how unusual it was for a stern, older man who seldom smiled and spoke even less to share folktales of the past with a chatty little girl. How paradoxical, but magical, that a man who lived the austere, work-filled life of an early Oklahoma pioneer would indulge in the extravagance of pansies and the whimsy of telling flower fairy tales to his great-granddaughter.

I later learned that many of his stories came from his German heritage and had probably been shared with him by his mother, grandmother, or maybe even his great-grandfather. His stories reached across the span of time, linking generations from the past to those of the present and future. Memories of those flower stories give me a glimpse of the sensitive side of this man I knew only through the eyes of a child.

Each time my great grandfather told me flower stories, he shared his personality, imagination, and memories. His folk and fairy tales taught me fun lessons about traditions of the past and instilled in me a life long love of stories and gardening.

From that pansy bed long ago in my great-grandfather’s backyard to the pansies that now greet guests at my front door, the roots of my family tree run deep. The colorful faces of my pansies transcend time to connect the generations through my great-grandfather’s legacy of love and stories of the past.

In the Victorian language of flowers, pansy means “think of me.” And yes, I do think of my great-grandfather whenever I see a pansy, and I thank him.

Spring Surprises

Daffodils – March’s signature flower - announce spring’s arrival as their trumpet blossoms dance in the wind. Along country roads and highways that cut through the flat prairie land in Oklahoma where I live, splashes of sunshine-yellow blossoms brighten the last brown tones of winter. Sprinkled randomly in the landscape, these exclamation points of color often mark an abandoned homestead with its lingering memories.

This year on my morning walks, I discovered two daffodil bouquets tucked in the woods near my house. These patches of color triggered questions and imaginings in my mind: Who planted them? When? Was there once a house there? Were the flowers part of a cherished garden? For me, the flowers were a message from the past that someone long ago cared about the future.

Why not give a surprise gift to the future – or your neighborhood! Daffodils are a success-guaranteed flower. Follow the planting directions on the package, water and walk away. The bulbs hibernate peacefully under the snow until late February or early March.

You can buy enough for mass plantings in the fall at bargain prices. The return on your investment multiplies through the years. These buried treasures pop up every spring and increase through the years to cheer our winter spirits and celebrate the arrival of spring.

Plant a bed of daffodils or if you want to have more fun, do as my sons and I did several years ago: Stand in the center of the yard and toss the bulbs high in the air. Then plant the bulbs where they land. My neighbors and I still enjoy the flowers planted years ago in a whimsical and fun way.

I wonder who will find the daffodils I’ve planted in the future. I hope they will be as happy to see them as I am when I discover patches of happiness planted long-ago by an anonymous gardener.

Daffodil, Narcissus, Jonquil: Which is which and why?

Bright bouquets of daffodils dot my front yard. Several years ago, my sons and I enjoyed the custom of throwing the bulbs high in the air and then planting them where they landed. The result has been an attention getter and sometimes traffic stopper as people linger to enjoy our whimsical planting scheme. I like to think maybe that’s the way God planted His gorgeous garden, laughing with joy at the beautiful surprises each plant will bring . I enjoy the memories of that day with my sons and like Wordsworth, . . “my heart with pleasure fills and dances with the daffodils.”

These spontaneous splashes of color in my yard go by many names - daffodil, narcissus and jonquil. Which is correct? All derive from the Narcissus family, and their blossoms are very similar. It is the length of the trumpet and the number of flowers per stem that distinguish one from the other. Daffodils have one blossom per stem while jonquils have clusters of blossoms.

Confusion continues with the origin of the plants’ names. It is possible that because daffodils were similar to the asphodel flowers, which are members of the lily family, that the name became corrupted over time. Daffodil could also come from the English word affodyle, which means “that which comes early,” referring to its early appearance in the spring.

Myths tell their own version of how the flower came to be. Long ago, according to Greek mythology, a mountain nymph named Echo fell madly in love with a mortal named Narcissus. He was a handsome but vain youth who was preoccupied with his own interests: hunting and admiring his good looks. He rudely ignored Echo’s efforts to interest him, so she sadly hid in a cave, suffering in grief until she died and faded away. Only her voice remained, which still haunts caves and canyons today. After her death, Narcissus became so absorbed in looking at his reflection in the water, that one day he fell in and drowned. The gods changed him into the flower that bears his name to remind us of the consequences of vanity and egoism. Similar versions of this myth exist in Roman, Arabic, Egyptian, Spanish, and Portuguese cultures.

The Romans believed that sap from the daffodil could heal wounds. However, it contains tiny sharp crystals called calcium oxalate that may actually irritate the skin. These crystals keep animals from eating the plant and are the reason that when daffodils are combined with other flowers in a vase, other flowers will wilt.

The powerful perfume of the daffodil can sometimes be overpowering, a reference to the word narcotic, which is related to narcissus. Although narcissus bulbs are poisonous, they have been used for centuries in medicines when mixed with other ingredients.

Whatever the flower’s name or origin, I hope you take time to enjoy the joyful beauty of these spring charmers. For more lessons from the daffodils, check out “The Daffodil Principle” at www.atthewell.com/daffodils

A Season of Love-birds

February is the traditional month of love. Even some birds seem to celebrate this season of love. My patio has been the dining area for several resident lovebirds this month. At least five pairs of mourning doves gather each morning for a breakfast of grain and corn, waddling and twaddling about on their sticklike legs. I’ve named each couple Lovey and Dovey. When you see one dove, you see its mate nearby. They peck for seeds together and converse with whispered coos.

Like doting lovers, they are comfortable in their routine and relationship. For better or worse, in sickness and in health, they seem to take our commitment vows more seriously than we humans do. They mate for life – till death separates them.

Early cultures recognized the constancy and gentleness of these birds and associated them with love and peace. The early Greeks and Romans honored the dove as a symbol of love. It was the sacred bird of Aphrodite and Venus, their goddesses of love. For the Chinese, Japanese and Hindus, the dove symbolized peace.

From the Old Testament to the New Testament in the Bible, the dove appears as a messenger of good news. A dove delivered an olive branch to Noah to mark the end or the great flood and to show that peace had been restored between God and man. From that event, the dove and the olive branch became symbols of peace and reconciliation.

A dove appeared in a dream to the parents of Mary before her birth to let them know the important role she would play in religious history as the mother of Christ. A second dove perched on Joseph’s staff as a sign to him that Mary would become his wife.

Legend claims the soft cooing lullaby of the doves in the Nativity stable soothed the Christ Child to sleep. Later at the infant’s ritual blessing with by Simeon, Joseph brought two white doves as an offering to the priests.

At Christ’s baptism, the spirit of God descended from the heavens like a dove. And, doves appeared at Christ’s resurrection as symbols of the love and peace in His life.
Throughout Christ’s live, doves surrounded Him with their beauty and gentleness.

The antics of my lovebirds have entertained me this past month. But they have provided more than just a bird-watching experience or entertainment. Watching them has convinced me that we humans have much to learn from our friends the birds – constancy, companionship, and caring – simple lessons from beautiful, simple creatures.