The Dogwood Tree

The Legend of the Dogwood Tree.
A Tale from the Southern United States.

Long ago, when Jesus lived on Earth, the dogwood was a giant among trees,
towering proudly above the pine and the oak.  Its broad, arching branches
gave shelter and shade to countless birds and animals.
One day men came into the forest.  They needed wood for the beams of
the cross on which Jesus would die.  Because of its great size and strength,
they chose the dogwood.
The dogwood tree was filled with grief when it heard what was to be
done with its wood.  "Lord," it cried, "let me wither and fall.  I cannot
bear to live, knowing I am the cause of your pain."
Then the voice of Jesus came, comforting the sorrowing tree.
"Because you feel pity for Me," Jesus said, "never again will you be used
for such a terrible purpose.  You will become a small, slender sapling.
Your blossoms will be white, in the shape of a cross.  The outer edge of
each petal will be torn and stained with rusty red, as if pierced by a nail.
In the center will be a crown of thorns.  All who see you will remember Me."
Now, each spring, the little dogwood brightens gardens and forests
with its clouds of white blossoms, bringing its message of hope and love.

By the way, do you know why we decorate our Christmas trees with tinsel?
This is explained by the legend of the Christmas spider.  A poor widow was
determined to give her family a good Christmas.  She spent hours decorating
a tree before falling into bed exhausted.  During the night spiders scurried
all over the tree, leaving dusty grey webs.  Jesus knew the mother would be
brokenhearted so, as a reward for her unselfish behaviour, turned the webs
into silver threads.

Whilst on this sort of subject, do you know what legally - in Britain anyway
- counts as a 'white' Christmas?  Only one snowflake needs to land on the
roof of the London U.K. Weather Centre for the day to be recorded as a
'white' Christmas in the capital.  Since 1900 snow or sleet has fallen on
Christmas Day ten times in London - This was as at 2003.  The 'one
snowflake' rule only came into use in the early 1970's when bookmakers
William Hill asked the Met Office for help in defining a white Christmas as
a reliable measure was needed for betting on a 25th December snowfall.
Observations began in London and soon spread to other U.K. weather centres.
Now readings are taken at a select few stations each year.

Submitted by Audrey Newell