WASHINGTON, D.C.— While the celebration of Christmas developed centuries after the events of the Nativity, the symbolic language of flowers, plants, and resins found throughout the Bible continues to shape contemporary floral traditions surrounding the holiday season. A synthesis of biblical imagery, theological reflection, and devotional art has established a powerful visual vocabulary, connecting commonplace elements—from evergreen boughs to bright red blooms—with the core narratives of hope, purity, and redemption central to Christ’s birth.
Lacking direct references to Christmas as a holiday or a specific list of Nativity flowers, Scripture nonetheless utilizes nature extensively to communicate profound spiritual truths, including renewal, humility, and enduring divine promises. Over centuries, Christian artists and theologians drew upon these established biblical symbols to layer meaning onto plants commonly associated with the winter festival.
Scriptural Roots of Christmas Blooms
Several traditional Christmas plants carry dual significance, rooted both in ancient texts and later devotional practice:
Lilies: Purity and Divine Provision. The lily is widely referenced in Scripture (Matthew 6:28–29; Song of Solomon 2:1–2) as a symbol of purity, beauty, and fundamental trust in God’s care. Jesus highlighted the lily’s elegance as a lesson in faith, emphasizing divine provision over human striving. For Christmas, the white lily became strongly associated with humility and holiness, particularly linked to the Virgin Mary in Nativity and Annunciation art.
Roses: Messianic Hope and Restoration. Biblical passages, such as the prophetic vision of the wilderness blossoming (Isaiah 35:1), connect the rose with themes of joy, beauty, and salvation. The reference to the “rose of Sharon” (Song of Solomon 2:1) was traditionally interpreted by Western Christian thought as a poetic reference to Christ. The image of the rose blooming during the cold of winter became a metaphor for the unexpected arrival of new life—Christ’s birth—into a darkened world, while its thorns later symbolized the sacrifice and suffering intertwined with redemption.
Symbols of Sacrifice and Eternity
Other popular plants reinforce the narrative arc of the Nativity, extending its meaning forward toward Christ’s ultimate purpose:
- Poinsettia and Humble Transformation: This cherished modern Christmas plant, not mentioned in the Bible, draws its significance from Mexican Christian legend, where a humble offering of simple weeds miraculously transformed into the vibrant, star-shaped crimson bloom. The plant’s deep red leaves are popularly associated with Christ’s blood and future sacrifice, while its form recalls the guiding Star of Bethlehem, visually bridging the birth and subsequent suffering.
- Evergreen Plants: The Promise of Eternal Life: Evergreen trees and boughs, remaining vibrant despite the winter, serve as powerful symbols of eternal life, endurance, and God’s unchanging promises (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:7–8). Their integration into Christmas traditions—through wreaths and trees—reminds adherents that spiritual vitality is available through Christ, even in difficult seasons.
- Frankincense and Myrrh: Though not flowers, the resins presented by the Magi (Matthew 2:11) are central to the floral theology of Christmas. Frankincense, used in worship, symbolizes Christ’s divinity and role as High Priest, while myrrh, used for anointing the dead, prophetically signals his mortality and future sacrifice.
Lesser-Known Symbols of Alertness and Atonement
Two less-recognized plants also demonstrate the continuous reflection on biblical symbolism:
- Almond Blossoms: As one of the earliest trees to bloom in the late winter, the almond symbolizes watchfulness and awakening (Jeremiah 1:11–12), mirroring the precise timing of Christ’s unexpected arrival.
- Hyssop: Used in cleansing and purification rituals in Scripture (Psalm 51:7; Exodus 12:22), hyssop symbolically connects the Christmas birth to the purpose of Christ’s life—the provision of atonement and cleansing of sin.
The enduring tradition of incorporating these botanical elements into holiday décor illustrates a rich historical commitment to using nature as a form of non-verbal spiritual instruction. Understanding these layered meanings offers consumers and florists a deeper appreciation for the ancient roots of modern Christmas aesthetics.