Helleborus niger

Although the flowers resemble wild roses and despite its common name, Christmas rose, a.k.a. Winter rose and Lenten rose, it does not belong to the rose family.

Due to an old legend, a Christmas rose sprouted in the snow from the tears of a young girl who had no gift to give the Christ child in Bethlehem.

One subspecies blooms at the abbey in England believed by some to have been established by St. Thomas. There is a source that claims it blooms near the new calendar date of January 6th. This date had been Christmas Day under the old Julian calendar. So when Christmas Day under the new calendar came around and the flower did not bloom, it was such a frightful omen that England did not adopt the Gregorian calendar at that time in 1588; adoption had to wait until 1751.

In the Middle Ages, people strewed the flowers on the floors of their homes to drive out evil influences. They blessed their animals with it and used it to ward off the power of witches.