ANCIENT SUPERSTITIONS. 285 



Evergreens. 



During the season of winter in our climate, no flowers ap- 

 pear, except on such plants as are shielded from the inclem- 

 ency of the weather ; even the green house plants can scarcely 

 be made to blossom. 



The leaves of the trees, and the stems of all annual plants, 

 are also decayed ; some hardy evergreens yet retain their 

 cheerful verdure. At Christmas, v the foliage of the pine, 

 spruce, and the beautiful running or ground pine (LYCOPODIUM), 

 belonging to the family of Ferns, are found in perfection, ready 

 to welcome the anniversary of our Saviour's birth. 



The custom of decorating churches with evergreens, is of 

 very ancient date. On this subject an English writer observes, 

 " The evergreens, with which the churches are usually orna- 

 mented at Christmas, are a proper emblem of that time when, 

 as God says by the Prophet Isaiah, ' / will plant in the wilder- 

 ness the cedar, and the myrtle, and the olive tree ; I will set in 

 the desert the fir tree and pine tree, and the box tree together.' 

 And in another place, l The glory of Lebanon shall come unto 

 thee ; the fir tree and the pine tree, and box together, to beautify 

 tJie place of my sanctuary ; and I will make the place of my feet 

 glorious.' ' 



In the Romish church, which abounds in external observan- 

 ces of religion, it is customary to bear palm boughs in proces- 

 sion on the anniversary of the day when Christ went into Je- 

 rusalem, and the children strewed branches of palm trees be- 

 fore him. In more northern latitudes, box, pine, olive, and 

 willows are used as a substitute for real palms, which do not 

 grow as in Judea, by the way sides. The day on which this 

 ceremony is performed is called Palm Sunday. 



Superstitions with regard to the blossoming of plants. 



In the Romish church, many superstitions exist with regard 

 to certain plants which happen to blossom about the time of 

 some Saint's days. In Italy and other countries in the south 

 of Europe, where these superstitions first originated, the dead- 

 nettle being in blossom about the time of St. Vincent's day, a 

 martyr who suffered for Christianity under the Emperor Dio- 

 desian, in the year 304, the flower is consecrated to him. 



The winter hellebore is usually in blossom about the time of 

 the conversion of St. Paul, supposed to be in commemoration 

 of that event. 



What flowers appear in winter Decorating churches with evergreens 

 Palm Sunday Superstitions in the Romish church with regard to the blos- 

 toming of certain plants. 



