December Birth Flower:
Narcissus and Hellebore

What are the birth flowers for December?

It may be a time of cold and darkness but December's birth flowers are full of life and beauty. The December birth flowers are the pretty Narcissus, and witchy Hellebore, both of which have fascinating histories as well as magical and folkloric connections which we will explore in this article.

At the bottom of the page I have also included some line drawings of both flowers in case you are looking for some December birth flower tattoo inspiration :)

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Hellebore | Narcissus | Tattoo Ideas

December Birth Flower: Narcissus

Symbolism: The Coming of Spring, Good Fortune, Fairy Folk

Zodiac Signs: Sagittarius and Capricorn

We start our look into the birth flowers of December with the lovely Narcissus. These flowers get their name from the Greek god Narcissus, who was so handsome he fell in love with his own reflection. He rejected all romantic advances and instead spent all his time gazing at himself in a pool of water and eventually drowned. Accordingly to legend the narcissus flower grew on the spot he died. His name is the origin of the word narcissism, to be in love with oneself. Due to their associations with this Greek myth, in the Victorian “language of flowers” narcissus were seen of as representing one sided love.

A flower of the Fairies

In Hokkien (a variety of Chinese originating in south-eastern China) the narcissus is known of as "水仙", which roughly translates as immortal water fairy!

Traditional Medicine

Narcissus are poisonous and should not be eaten, however their flowers produce a number of different alkaloids, which have been used for thousand of years in traditional healing. In ancient Greece an extract of the bulbs would be applied to open wounds as an anaesthetic. While ancient Arabian accounts write of how an oil made from narcissus can be rubbed into the scalp to cure baldness.

Alkaloid Superhero

More recently scientists have used the alkaloids found in Narcissus flowers to produce galantamine, which is effective in the treatment of of Alzheimer's dementia and other cognitive related illnesses. Galantamine has been shown to boost the function of nerve cells in the brain. It works to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, an essential neurotransmitter that plays a vital role in how out our memory, concentration and muscles function. So narcissus are not just pretty flowers, they are also helping to save lives!

December Birth Flower: Hellebore

Symbolism: Protection, Strength, Witchcraft

Zodiac Signs: Sagittarius and Capricorn

Another December Birth flower is the gorgeous hellebore. Also known as the Christmas Rose or Lenten Rose, Hellebores are a beautiful perennial plant belonging to the Ranunculaceae (or buttercup) family, with varieties originating from Europe and Asia.

Hellebores gently nodding blooms come in a variety colours, including shades of white, pink, purple, green, and my favourite, a witchy dark maroon. Some hellebore varieties have speckled or veined patterns on their petals, adding to their charm.

Similar to January’s birth flower, the snowdrop, hellebores are tough flowers that can withstand chilly temperatures, even blooming while there's still snow on the ground. This hardiness makes them a favourite among gardeners who want to enjoy flowers during the winter months.

Aphrodite’s Tears

In Greek mythology, hellebores were associated with the goddess of love, Aphrodite, and were believed to have been created from her tears and the blood of her slain lover, Adonis.

Medieval Magic

While they many be beautiful to look at, hellebores are highly toxic, and can cause skin irritation and gastrointestinal issues if ingested. Despite this, they were used for various ailments in medieval times, such as cleansing, gout and even as a cure for madness. However, their extreme toxicity probably meant they did far more harm than good…

In medieval European folk culture, hellebores were believed to possess magical properties, making them popular in folk medicine and protective rituals. One notable use of hellebores for protection can be found in the "evil eye" superstition - a belief that certain individuals can cause harm or misfortune with a malevolent gaze. In medieval times it was believed that planting hellebore outside your home could to ward off the effects of the evil eye and protect the home's inhabitants against curses.

Blossom of the Witches

Possibly due to their poisonous nature, Hellebores have a long history of being associated with Witchcraft. Its thought that in ancient times Hellebores were included in potions and charms used by witches for various magical purposes, such as divination, love spells, or attempts to gain insight into the future.