> Hi,
>
> From: Joe E. Dees <jdees0@students.uwf.edu>
> >This candy cane myth reminds me of the crucifixion myth
> >surrounding the dogwood bloom. Those rascals will co-opt
> >anything... Joe
>
>
> Dogwood bloom? I haven't heard of that one... could you explain?
>
> ERiC
>
The dogwood tree was supposed to (according to the myth) be the
tree which furnished the wood for the cross from which Jesus was
crucified. As a result, the tree (which used to grow to be as large
as an oak, according to the myth) was stunted, and will never grow
to the size which allows it to be used for that purpose again. The
bloom is a white cross (white for sinless), with rust colored stains on
its tips (the marks of rusty nails or dried blood - you pick). The oval
seeds turn red to symbolize the drops of blood shed.
I'm sure there are probably other elements to this mytheme (or
memyth), but these are the ones I've heard. Joe