Black Hellebore

By blooming in the winter, black hellebore has cheered many hearts. Because of its season, it was named Christmas rose. And because of its astonnnnnising ability to defy the cruel elements of winter,it signified to men and

women that this herb must have great power. In the Middle Ages, people strewed the flowers on the floors oftheir homes to drive out evil influences. They blessed the animals with it and used it to ward off the power of witches. These same people belived, however, that wiches employed the herb in their spells and that sorcerers tossed the powered herb into the air around them to make themselves invisible.