Plants of Light: The Symbolism of Fire and Flora in Winter Holidays
- The Economic Botanist
- Oct 17
- 8 min read
This article is about how light-loving plants—resins, evergreens, herbs, and oils—become symbols, rituals, and even commodities in winter traditions.
“From sap that glows like tears of the tree, to candles fed by olive oil, plants whisper the story of light through dark days.” - The Economic Botanist
When you pause to smell pine, burn a candle, or see that golden resin glinting in market stalls, you’re touching a long and living tradition. In winter holidays around the world—Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and pagan or Yule observances—plants tied to fire and light carry deep symbolism. They are more than decoration: they are ritual tools, spiritual bridges, and even economic goods with sacred value.
In this post, we’ll walk through:
What fire‑plants (resins, evergreens, oils, candle botanicals) are and why they matter
How these plants are used in Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and pagan/Yule traditions
How ancient trade routes spread these sacred botanicals
The interplay between spiritual value and economic value
Tips for you to bring these traditions into your winter rituals
Let’s step into a world where flame, leaf, and aroma weave together.
On this page
Plants of Light: what they are
Fire and Light as Symbols in Winter Holidays
Frankincense & Myrrh: Resins From Ancient Trade
Pine, Fir, and Evergreen Resin: The Green Flame
Candle-Making Botanicals & Olive Oil
Sacred Trade & the Economy of Aromatic Plants
Plants of Light: what they are
By “plants of light” we mean those plants, resins, and botanicals that humans have long associated with flame, glow, or ritual luminosity. These include:
Frankincense (resin from Boswellia trees)
Myrrh (resin from Commiphora trees)
Evergreen resins (pine, fir, spruce)
Olive oil (for lamps and candles)
Herbs & spices often used in candle-making or incense (cinnamon, clove, rosemary, bayberry, etc.)
These botanicals are often burned, infused, or pressed to create light, smoke, scent, or flame. Their aromatic smoke is seen as carrying prayer, purification, or transformation. Because they are relatively rare, need special harvesting, or travel long distances, they also develop economic and sacred value.
When we explore how holidays incorporate them, we see how human culture knits together nature, ritual, and economy.
Fire and Light as Symbols in Winter Holidays
Why is light so central to winter celebrations? Because in the darkest part of the year, people naturally turn to symbols of hope, rebirth, protection, and divine presence. Plants that produce light or fragrance amplify that symbolism. In many traditions:
Light or flame stands for renewal, divine presence, hope, the return of the sun
Smoke or aroma carries prayers, purifies space, allows communion with spirit
Evergreens symbolize life enduring through death/decay
Botanicals used in candles/incense hold intentional magic or blessing
Let’s look how various holidays draw on these plant‑light traditions.
Frankincense & Myrrh: Resins From Ancient Trade
Origin and trade
Frankincense (Boswellia species) and myrrh (Commiphora) are resinous gums collected by making incisions in tree bark, so the sap “bleeds” out and hardens into tears. These trees grow in dry, rocky regions in the Horn of Africa, southern Arabia, and parts of the Middle East.
Because the growing locations are distant from many cultures that prized them, frankincense and myrrh became high‑value trade goods. They traveled along the Incense Route, Silk Road branches, Red Sea and Arabian trade, and trans‑Saharan routes.
These resins weren’t just luxury goods — they had ritual, medicinal, and symbolic roles, making them a kind of “sacred economy” product.
Symbolic roles in Christianity & beyond
In the Christian nativity narrative, the Magi present gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus. Christian interpreters often see gold as royalty, frankincense as deity or prayer, and myrrh as mortality, suffering, or burial.
But these resins already carried sacred meaning before Christianity. In the ancient world:
Temples burned frankincense as offerings and purification during ritual.
Myrrh was used in embalmings, incense, and medicinal formulas.
In myth, the Phoenix was said to build its funeral nest from frankincense and myrrh, then be reborn.
Mythical stories turn Myrrha (a woman) into a myrrh tree, whose tears become resin.
In rituals, harvesters often respected the “spirit of the tree,” performing prayers or offerings when tapping bark.
Fun fact: The Christmas fragrance “Frankincense & Myrrh” was once considered rarer than gold, and in some medieval periods, those resins were taxed or restricted to royal or church use only. |
So when you smell frankincense in a church or see resin in a holiday incense kit, you’re connecting with millennia of ritual.
Ritual & practical uses
Used in incense blends, alone or mixed, during worship or purification
Mixed into anointing oils or chrism (especially in Christian rites)
Burned to purify space, elevate vibration, drive away negativity
Used medicinally (in ancient or folk traditions) for wounds, inflammation, spiritual healing
In winter, when incense is used to sanctify space or invite light, frankincense and myrrh are often the stars of the show.
Pine, Fir, and Evergreen Resin: The Green Flame
While frankincense and myrrh come from distant desert trees, evergreens are familiar in many temperate and boreal regions. Their symbolism (life, persistence, resilience) is powerful in winter, when most plants look dormant or dead.
Evergreen symbolism
They stay green through winter, symbolizing enduring life and hope
Branches of pine, fir, spruce, holly, yew, and laurel became staples in pagan, Yule, and later Christian traditions
Evergreen boughs, wreaths, garlands, and trees turn homes into “living green” symbols of light amid darkness
Resin, smoke, and ritual use
Pine resin (or fir, spruce) easily contributes aromatic smoke when burned with charcoal or mixed into incense blends
In pagan solstice rites, juniper, spruce, and pine resins or needles are burned to purify and honor ancestors or deities.
The smell of evergreen can evoke spirit presence, seasonal blessing, and connection to nature
Christmas connections
The Christmas tree tradition borrows from older pagan evergreen rites
Wreaths, garlands, and greenery in homes recall the life‑force of the forest
Some seasonal incense cones (in parts of Europe) use pine, juniper, spruce rather than exotic resins.
Thus, evergreen resins and smoke bring a local, earthy counterpart to the exotic frankincense/myrrh, anchoring winter rituals in your own biome.
Fun fact: In ancient Greece, the Delphic priests burned mixtures of frankincense, myrrh, and laurel during oracular divinations, believing the smoke linked them to prophecy. |
Candle-Making Botanicals & Olive Oil
Not all plants of light are resins. Some give fuel, fragrance, or botanical power to the candle flame itself.
Olive oil: the ancient lamp fuel
In Hanukkah, the miracle of the oil is central. According to tradition, when the temple was rededicated, only one small cruse of pure olive oil remained — enough for one day — but it burned for eight. Because of that, olive oil and the olive tree become symbols of purity, persistence, and divine provision.
The olive tree and its oil were long valued across the Mediterranean—not just for fuel, but food, anointing, medicine, and trade.
When you light a menorah, you’re invoking centuries of symbolism tied to light and plant.
Herb, spice, and botanical additions to candles & incense
To infuse candles with intention or scent, people often add botanicals like:
Cinnamon
Clove
Rosemary
Bay
Mistletoe / holly
Sage
Juniper
These plants may carry correspondences: protection, purification, healing, warding, or festivity.
When you light a candle with such botanicals embedded (or in an herbal-infused wax), the flame becomes a living symbol carrying both light and plant spirit.
Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa candles
Hanukkah: olive‑oil lamps or wicks remind us of the oil miracle
Christmas: candles on advent wreaths, nativity scenes, and seasonal displays often incorporate botanical scents or drip with herbs
Kwanzaa: The kinara (seven-branched candleholder) is central; while not traditionally botanical, modern practitioners may embellish with leaves, herbs, or natural decoration that link to African flora
Blending tradition with nature, you can make your candle rituals richer by choosing botanicals that align with your intention.
Kwanzaa and Cultural Plants
Kwanzaa is a relatively newer holiday (1966) rooted in Pan-African philosophy and cultural revival. While it does not have ancient plant-based incense traditions in the same way as older faiths, you can see how nature and symbolism enter into its practice.
Nature, color, and plant symbolism
The Nguzo Saba (seven principles) are symbolized by mazao (crops, fruits) displayed on the mkeka (mat) — these are naturally plant-based symbols
Natural decor using leaves, branches, bulbs, and culturally meaningful plants (e.g. African favorites) can enhance aesthetic and meaning
You can incorporate small amounts of botanical incense, herbs, or aromatic oils in meditative reflections
Opportunity for ritual plants in modern observance
While not fixed, many practitioners like to:
Burn incense or scented candles during Kwanzaa evenings
Use botanical decorations with meaning (e.g., herbal ties, dried grasses)
Use native or heritage plants to root the celebration in ecology and heritage
So Kwanzaa invites you to merge intention, heritage, and nature in a living way.
Sacred Trade & the Economy of Aromatic Plants
A fascinating lens is to see how the sacred value of these plants became economic value, and how trade shaped religions and rituals.
Sacred goods as trade goods
Frankincense and myrrh were in high demand in ancient temples, courts, and incense houses, raising their trade value
Because they served religious and medicinal purposes, they were not mere luxury goods but foundational commodities
Evergreens, herbs, and spices from temperate zones also entered local markets as ritual or festive goods
Routes and networks
The Incense Route (Arabian Peninsula to Mediterranean) was a celebrated trade artery
Frankincense caravans crossed arid lands, linking distant forests and kingdoms
Resins then traveled by sea, linking Africa, Arabia, India, and Europe
Sacred economics
The cost of these plants and resins limited their use, making them precious in rituals
Giving frankincense and myrrh as gifts in ancient times was a sign of great devotion or wealth
Their scarcity made them symbols of divine connection
Even today, sustainably harvested resins, fair‑trade incense, and heritage essential oils carry echoes of those ancient sacred economies.
Bringing Ritual Plants into Your Own Winter Practice
Now, how can you bring these plants of light into your own celebrations, in ways that feel meaningful and grounded?
Simple ideas you can try
Resin incense blends
Use small amounts of frankincense or myrrh resin with charcoal discs
Blend with pine needles, juniper, or dried herbs for local aroma
Light a bit during your meditation, prayer, or seasonal ritual
Herbal candles
Buy plain beeswax or soy candles and press in bits of rosemary, cinnamon, bayleaf, or pine needles
Or make your own small infused candles using botanical oils
Evergreen smudge / smoke cleansing
Bundle spruce, fir, or pine branches and gently smudge spaces (like a “smoke cleanse”)
Use juniper or cedar to purify and invite spirit
Olive oil mini‑lamp
For a quiet Hanukkah-inspired moment, fill a small glass with olive oil and a wick, light it and let it burn as a meditation on light
Botanical decor with meaning
Use wreaths, garlands, or seasonal plants (holly, ivy, yew) and carry symbolic intention with them
Place small herb bundles near your candle or altar
Sourcing consciously
Look for fair‑trade or sustainably harvested resins
Support growers and indigenous harvesters
Use local botanicals where possible
Tips for mindful use
Always burn incense or resins in well‑ventilated spaces
Use small amounts — often a pinch is enough
Set an intention or prayer before lighting
Reflect on how the aroma, smoke, and flame speak to you
As you do this, remember that you aren’t just creating a pleasing scent — you’re participating in a tradition of plants, fire, spirit, and human connection.
The Bottom Line
Plants of light—resins, evergreens, oils, botanicals—hold a quiet power in winter holidays. They do more than decorate: they mediate spirit and matter, carry prayer in smoke, and remind us that even in darkness the living earth still breathes.
In Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and pagan/Yule traditions, these botanicals anchor the ethereal. They remind us that ritual happens through our senses — light, scent, flame — and that humans have long invested botanical matter with spiritual worth. The same plants that walked trade routes became part of ritual economies, and now you can invite them into your own practice.
May your winter season be gentle with light, vivid with aroma, rich with ritual. Use a pinch of resin, a sprig of evergreen, or a candle blessed with herbs — and let that flame carry your intention into the dark, guiding your heart toward hope.
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