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The Christmas Rose
With the aid of Saint Nikolaus and some helpful animals, the children of a poor, sick woodsman travel to the frozen north to get the one thing that will cure their father in time for Christmas.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1920
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 9, 2015
A wonderful advent story, starting on St Nicholas' Day 6th December with a final reading on 24th December. Each day has part of the story and an illustration on each double page spread. The story is good, it reminded us in parts of Gerda searching for Kay in the Snow Queen. The illustrations are beautiful, especially the animals, this illustrator does create some scary old men though!
When my children were small we read this each night as part of our evening reads with some candles or an advent candle burning. I really like the idea of a story where you read a part of each day, I'm surprised there aren't more like this, especially ones that lead up to Christmas.
The back pages are particularly interesting. First printed in 1920 as a kind of advent calendar in a book, it later went out of print. Wenz-Vietor's daughter mentioned to a German publisher that this story existed but the original artwork was thought to have been lost during WWII. The publisher managed to track down a copy from an antiquarian book seller in Switzerland in 2006 and it is in print once again!
When my children were small we read this each night as part of our evening reads with some candles or an advent candle burning. I really like the idea of a story where you read a part of each day, I'm surprised there aren't more like this, especially ones that lead up to Christmas.
The back pages are particularly interesting. First printed in 1920 as a kind of advent calendar in a book, it later went out of print. Wenz-Vietor's daughter mentioned to a German publisher that this story existed but the original artwork was thought to have been lost during WWII. The publisher managed to track down a copy from an antiquarian book seller in Switzerland in 2006 and it is in print once again!
November 20, 2012
WEEKLY CHRISTMAS READ FOR DECEMBER
This wonderful book begins on December 6th, Saint Nicholas Day, and continues through to Christmas Eve. Created in 1920 as an advent calendar, the pictures by Else Wenz-Vietor bring back the simpler days of wide-eyed child adventures. There are polar bears, a snow giant, and the goose who flies the children to see the Winter King. The Winter King! He was Father Christmas when I was a child.
Saint Nicholas Day is the big winter holiday in my family, where we place our wooden clogs outside (I put old Belgian francs in mine in case Nicholas doesn't use Euros), hoping for chocolates and gingerbread men in return. Seven days later, on December 13th, we celebrate Santa Lucia Day with lemon meringue pies, buttery marble cakes, and hot pecan rolls. And split pea soup with leeks. And hot buttered bread. And somehow Irish Coffee has crept into the tradition. By the time December 25th rolls around, none of us can fit through the door.
This book brings together the origins of the Santa Claus legend (St. Nick) with the Christ Child portion of Christmas. Each day has its own adventure with a featured creature (Crookshanks the Hare!) and the reader will feel like a youngster again. Some of us never grow up.
Book Season = Winter (time to eat)
November 18, 2018
Originally published as an advent calendar in the early 1920s, this charming holiday tale - illustrated by Else Wenz-Viëtor, one of Germany's most celebrated picture-book artists from the 1920s and 1930s - was largely forgotten for many decades, until it was rediscovered in a Swiss antiquarian bookseller's shop in 2006. It has now been recreated as a picture-book, both in the original German (Die Christrose - ein Weihnachtsmärchen), and in this new English translation. It's odd to think that, despite its long history, it is as "new" to most German readers, as to their English-language counterparts!
The story of Fritz and Gretl, the children of a poor woodcutter, who set out to find the Winter King's palace in the far north, and bring back one of his white Christmas roses, in order to cure their desperately ill father, The Christmas Rose reminds me a bit of Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy-tale, The Snow Queen . Of course, Fritz and Gretl's quest - in which they are aided by everything from a squirrel to a polar bear, not to mention Saint Nikolaus - doesn't end at the Winter King's palace, as Gerda's does at the Snow Queen's, but continues on to the gates of Heaven itself, where they meet the Christ Child.
Although Sepp Bauer's story doesn't have the same power as Andersen's, it was still an enjoyable read, and the similarity between the two was pronounced enough that I found myself wondering whether Bauer had modeled his work upon the famous Danish fabulist's masterpiece. In any case, I think that young readers who enjoy magical holiday tales, or who are interested in German Christmas traditions - Saint Nikolaus visits the children on December 6th in this story - will want to take a look at The Christmas Rose. The illustrations have a sweet, old-fashioned charm - the angels reminded me of Elizabeth Orton Jones' work, in books like What Miranda Knew - that will only add to the appeal of this little book!
The story of Fritz and Gretl, the children of a poor woodcutter, who set out to find the Winter King's palace in the far north, and bring back one of his white Christmas roses, in order to cure their desperately ill father, The Christmas Rose reminds me a bit of Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy-tale, The Snow Queen . Of course, Fritz and Gretl's quest - in which they are aided by everything from a squirrel to a polar bear, not to mention Saint Nikolaus - doesn't end at the Winter King's palace, as Gerda's does at the Snow Queen's, but continues on to the gates of Heaven itself, where they meet the Christ Child.
Although Sepp Bauer's story doesn't have the same power as Andersen's, it was still an enjoyable read, and the similarity between the two was pronounced enough that I found myself wondering whether Bauer had modeled his work upon the famous Danish fabulist's masterpiece. In any case, I think that young readers who enjoy magical holiday tales, or who are interested in German Christmas traditions - Saint Nikolaus visits the children on December 6th in this story - will want to take a look at The Christmas Rose. The illustrations have a sweet, old-fashioned charm - the angels reminded me of Elizabeth Orton Jones' work, in books like What Miranda Knew - that will only add to the appeal of this little book!
November 29, 2008
This story was originally published circa 1920 as a sort of advent calandar. It got lost over time, but was rediscovered in an antiquarian bookshop in Switzerland in 2006, along with the original illustrations by Germany's famous Else Wenz-Vietor. Based on German Christmas traditions, it's a very sweet tale about two woodman's children who want nothing for Christmas but for their ailing father to be well again. Saint Nicholas (who visits homes Dec. 6 in Germany) tells them that the scent of the White Winter Rose has the ability to cure all illness, but to get it they must go on a long, dangerous and difficult journey the Winter Land as The Winter King is the only one that grows it. Helped by many woodland and fantastical creatures, the children have an amazing adventure and learn the true meaning of love and Christmas spirit.
December 22, 2009
This is such a beautiful book, I'm so glad it's back in print! You will want to travel to the Winter King with Fritz and Gretl, so good!!
November 26, 2011
This is a beautiful and rare book to read. The story itself dates back to 1920 when it was originally released but due to events in history, the story has changed along with some pictures. It was great to read that in 2006, it was found again and reprinted for a whole new generation to read and enjoy. It was written as an advent calender for each day until the eve of Christmas.
The story follows the lives of a son and daughter on a journey to find a flower that will cure their father of a terrible illness. The characters and creatures they meet along the way show that no matter how terrible of a journey, if you have the strength and courage to find what you are after, good things will come in the end.
If you have children, this is a great book to sit down and read with them.
The story follows the lives of a son and daughter on a journey to find a flower that will cure their father of a terrible illness. The characters and creatures they meet along the way show that no matter how terrible of a journey, if you have the strength and courage to find what you are after, good things will come in the end.
If you have children, this is a great book to sit down and read with them.
January 11, 2013
Another treasure found at Goodwill for .68¢, this fairy tale embodies the spirit of Christmas as two children undertake a dangerous journey to find a cure for their father’s illness. Originally published in the 1920’s, it was republished in Germany in 2006 and translated into English in this 2008 publication. I love the illustrations and the way the book is organized with each day of the children’s adventure leading up to Christmas from December 6 to 24.
November 13, 2009
This is an Advent book that Ben really loved last year. He was interested in the adventure and the animals and couldn't wait to hear what happened the next night. We were really encouraged by his interest and his ability to understand the ideas without getting too scared.
January 5, 2013
I liked this book. Interesting story, though very similar to many fairy tales and quest stories. This one, however, was designed as an Advent calendar. I like the illustrations - nice ambience, if one can say that about illustrations.
December 28, 2016
A lovely old German story, out of print then recently rediscovered and reprinted. Meant to be read one page per day from the feast of st Nicholas to Christmas Eve.
November 16, 2017
beautiful christmas themed book, similar to an advent calendar, with an event for each day leading up to december 24th. the story behind the story is wonderful too!
January 2, 2020
Great advent read with the kids!
December 13, 2024
Cute story, beautiful illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews