Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

This Advent/Christmas hymn is from the 16th century, its authorship unknown. The tune and harmonies commonly used today were composed by Michael Praetorius in 1609. The original lyrics were written in German, and were translated by Theodore Baker in 1894 into the text most well known to English speakers today:

Lo, how a rose e'er blooming,

From tender stem hath sprung.

Of Jesse's lineage coming,

As men of old have sung;

It came, a flow'ret bright,

Amid the cold of winter,

When half spent was the night.

Isaiah 'twas foretold it,

The Rose I have in mind,

With Mary we behold it,

The virgin mother kind;

To show God's love aright,

She bore to men a Savior,

When half spent was the night.

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The tradition of Christ being born at midnight has no scriptural basis, per se. There are indications that the birth took place at night. Luke 2:8-9 "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them" announcing the birth of the savior. But the exact timing of the midnight hour is of less literal than spiritual importance. The darkest hour of the night, particularly when associated with the winter solstice, is the moment when the light begins to return and banish the darkness.

The theme of darkness vs light -- and the symbolism of Christ as light -- permeates the scriptures:

Isaiah 9:2 

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."

John 1:4-5 

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

John 12:46 

"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."

John 8:12 

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

* * *

The symbolism of the Rose is up for debate. Various passages of scripture have been cited as likely sources for the analogy.

Solomon 2:1 

"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valley." This reference evokes some Catholic sources who claim that the focus of the hymn was originally upon Mary, the "mystical rose".

Isaiah 11:1 

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots." 

Isaiah 35:1 

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose." 

This seems to be a more solid Biblical basis for the imagery in the hymn. 

* * *

In any case, it is a most beautiful song, and one of my favorites.