Words for Worship

Ministry Today

Spring Daffodils

The flower most associated with Easter is of course the daffodil. Because unless this season falls late in the calendar or the weather has been particularly warm, daffodils are usually at their best at this time of year.  As a result we usually don’t have to look too far to see their golden heads fluttering and dancing in the spring breeze. Also their glorious colour often brightens up our homes and churches each and every Eastertide.

However, as Scots we have no natural call upon the daffodil, for it is the national emblem of Wales. Therefore, every St David’s Day, loyal Welshmen and women wear this flower with pride. But not only does national pride enter into their hunt for the daffodil; for a legend does as well. Because they believe that whoever is lucky enough to discover the first bloom of the season will be blessed with more gold than silver in the year ahead.

Well, I am not sure that the women who first discovered God’s new flowering into the world with the Resurrected

Jesus, felt blessed at the time. For it must have been an almost overwhelming realisation and even downright shock. Yet in time, what they found that morning at the empty tomb would bless the whole of humanity even in the coldest season with neither silver nor gold but something more precious. And to understand what the blessing was, we need to go to another tradition that surrounds our Easter time flower.

Because did you know that, since Victorian times, the first Sunday in April has been celebrated as Daffodil Sunday across the whole nation. And on that day whole families would have gone out and picked the yellow flowers and then taken them to the local hospital and to the sick at home. For it has long been held that daffodils signify love, healing and happiness. And that is exactly what the news of the empty tomb has blessed people everywhere with. For the Risen Christ promises this Easter and every Easter to blossom in our hearts and bring love, healing and happiness.  

No wonder then this little rhythm can have a golden double meaning for this season:

Blossom and bud with winter past,

Joyfully having their fling

And daffodils dancing along the path

Trumpet the good news of spring.

Amen