Tuesday 24 December 2013

Mary's Palm

In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous. ~Aristotle

You may wonder why I am sharing an image of a dried up plant, but this plant plays a role in our story of Christmas.



It’s name is Anastatica hierochuntica, but it is known in Arabic as Kaff Maryam, meaning Mary’s palm. 

It grows in the Sinai, where it is common in the wadis, or dried river beds of the desert.

Legend has it that Mary carried this plant when she was pregnant with Jesus, and she is said to have clutched it in her hand during childbirth.  For centuries, it has been used by the people of the Middle East as a herbal medicine. Pregnant women were given an infusion of the plant to help ease labour pains.Whether there is any truth in this, we will never know, but ever since then, this little plant has been called Kaff Maryam. The word Kaff means the palm of the hand, and Maryam is the arabic for Mary.

 "If God can bring life from this dead plant shall he not much more bring life from your life?"        ~Bedouin saying


Anastatica hierochuntica grows in the deserts of North Africa and the Arabian peninsula.  It is a small inconspicuous plant, with soft blue-grey desert foliage and tiny white flowers. Once it has flowered, it curls up into a tight woody ball enclosing it’s precious seeds, and dies.  The plant can stay like this for many years, until the rain comes. The Bedouins told me that it takes two rains… the first to unfurl the branches, the second to bring the seeds to life. For this reason, it is also known as the Resurrection plant.

It’s life cycle is best described in this short video by the great David Attenborough, in his series Africa.








Another legend says that when Mary and Joseph fled Bethlehem with Jesus to avoid the massacre by King Herod, they stopped for a while in the desert of Jericho. When Mary climbed down from her donkey, this little plant began to flower in greeting, giving it the title of the Rose of Jericho.



Kaff Maryam is also traditionally  kept as a good luck charm, and hung in the home as a talisman for fertility, good health and hope. So on that note, I wish you all  a very Happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year!

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ~Albert Einstein

8 comments:

  1. Dear Shevaun,
    This is such a wonderful post! I learned so much (I had never heard of this plant before.) Thank you so much for sharing the beautiful legend and story as well as your gorgeous paintings. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and healthy, happy, creative New Year, too!
    Carol

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    1. Thanks Carol. I think we're blessed to paint plants- it opens our eyes to all sorts of little wonders and stories like this help us connect to our history. Happy Christmas to you too. :)

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  2. Well, life is life anyway, and always it surprises us ! Your posts are food for my brain, thanks and Buon Natale Shevaun!

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    1. I wish you a very Christmas too, Renata. Lets hope that 2014 continues to bring inspiration and surprise into our lives.

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  3. Thanks for sharing this interesting plant and the legends surrounding it. Your paintings are beautiful as always. I think the way that plants intertwine with human history is a fascinating study--and one we easily lose sight of in our insulated modern world.
    I wish you a Merry Christmas and a much creativity in the new year!

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    1. Yes, I agree. The relationship between man and plants is fascinating. Plants can hold so many stories- I love researching them. It helps make that connection when you paint. Thanks for your comments, Janene! Happy New Year!!

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  4. Thanks for sharing this. I had never heard this story and loved the paintings and photos. Have a fantastic 2014 full of joy and creativity!

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    1. Thanks Rhonda! An inspiring and creative New Year to you too!!!

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