Flowers of the Month: December Floriography

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, December 27, 2025

Edwardian Era Rabbit Bunny in December parlor by Teagan via Night Cafe

Hello, all.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season.  The two rabbits above seem to be enjoying themselves.  Yes, I’m squeaking in, just under the deadline for a December flowers of the month post.

Flowers of the Month:  Holly and Narcissus

Holly and Narcissus in vase by window December flowers of month

Holly and Narcissus

Though I don’t think of the spiky leaves of holly as a flower, with its red berries, it is so festive that I don’t in the least mind that it’s the December flower of the month.

I was surprised to find that the narcissus was the secondary flower for the month of December.  Their blossoms seem so springy to me… Maybe that is only because they remind me of daffodils, which to me epitomize spring.  However, I learned that it is a December flower because certain varieties of it, particularly paperwhites, are cultivated to bloom indoors during winter.

Holly

Holly and red-berries sleet Pixabay
Photo credit Pixabay

Holly, across multiple cultures and traditions, represents protection, eternal life, happiness, and good fortune.  The evergreen quality of the holly tree is metaphoric for eternal life. There’s no wonder holly seems Christmasy, and it’s not only because of the traditional red and green colors. Christians have adopted holly as one of many symbols for Christmas.  The sharp leaves are said to symbolize the crown of thorns worn by Christ at the crucifixion, with its berries representing his blood. 

Narcissus

Narcissus near Admonter Haus, Styria, Austria. Photo by Tigerente at Wikipedia

Narcissus flowers symbolize hope, new beginnings, or rebirth — renewal as the year ends, which aligns with the festive December/New Year period and the promise of the coming spring.  Of course there’s also the flower’s other meaning, vanity.  That stems from the Greek myth of the handsome young man named Narcissus.  He loved his reflection far too much, which resulted in his demise and transformation into the narcissus flower.

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I appreciate you spending part of the holiday weekend here.  Thanks to my delightful bunny models that I created with Night Cafe.  Wishing you continued holiday blessings. Friendly comments are welcome.   Hugs!

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Naturally, here is the obligatory shameless self-promotion.

Speak Flowers and Fans: a Dictionary of Floriography and Fanology

Review from Olga Núñez Miret

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42 thoughts on “Flowers of the Month: December Floriography”

  6. I love this pairing, Teagan!!! Holly and narcissus feel like two quiet bookends to the season. Holly with its endurance and sharp beauty, reminding us that winter has its own kind of strength; narcissus offering that subtle promise that something tender and new is already preparing itself, even in the darkest months. I hadn’t thought before about paperwhites blooming indoors as a kind of gentle defiance of winter, a small act of hope on a windowsill. And I appreciate how you hold both meanings of narcissus together: renewal and vanity. It feels honest, and very human. A beautiful way to close the year with eyes open. Sending many hugs on speedy wings to you and the Scoobies!

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    1. Thanks for your kind words, Rebecca. I had not really thought about that (honest, human), but you did remind me that I have a compulsion for honesty of which I’m usually unaware (and trust me, that is not a good thing…). Anyway, I suppose that closing the year this way is appropriate, considering how so many people have their “eyes wide shut” in one way or another. I hope everyone is well there. I think of all of you often. Hugs winging back to you.

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  12. We used to place trays of stones on the window sills and then put narcissus bulbs on the trays. They would bloom about mid-December and add a freshness to the holiday festivities. I enjoyed the symbolism of the holly. On the coast, we had abundant holly bushes which I loved.

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    1. I saw a photo with something similar, John. I thought they were just being artsy — no dirt. That’s fascinating. When I was 17, I worked as a docent at a historic home in Tennessee that was surrounded by mature holly trees. They really were lovely. The squirrels chowed down on the berries — which stunned me, but apparently any toxicity didn’t bother them. The little beggars were mostly tame too, and would steal “Certs” mints if they got half a chance (which were popular at the time). Anyway, I appreciate you spending part of your day here. Hugs.

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  14. The Holly’s is a wonderful story to share this time of year, Teagan. I wouldn’t have expected narcissus to be a December flower, but the explanation makes sense. Thanks for an interesting post. I hope you have a nice easy weekend.

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  15. Thanks, Teagan, I’ve read and loved the book, and it is great to have a reminder of the flowers of this month and their meaning. We’re having cloudy and rainy days, so something colourful is welcome. Have a lovely end of the year. Big hugs to you and love to the Scoobies. ♥

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    1. Thanks, Fraggle. The app used to give me such beautiful gowns for the animals, but yesterday it was not cooperative at all. It puts half a dozen different cats in big sloppy robes (not “elaborate Victorian gown”), three different foxes were messed up morphed up monsters. The first several rabbits were costumed okay, but the holly had berries the size of tangerines. I was glad to finally get the one I used here.
      Take care. Hugs.

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      1. Everything grows in Australia. I plant Narcissus bulbs each year as I love Daffodils.
        My church I went to as a child, had a holly bush in the garden.
        I am ready for Sunday now 😁
        Have a lovely weekend Teagan 🤗

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