I knew there had to be a song out there about a Christmas rose and I was right. The song and the coloring fit each other not only for that, but in the lyrics it says, “friendship is a holly tree” and there are holly leaves surrounding the rose. What is love without friendship?

“Love Is A Christmas Rose” was composed by Earl Shuman and Leon Carr. Perry Como recorded the song on August 24, 1967 and released it as a single in November 1967. “Love Is A Christmas Rose” was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee and produced by Chet Atkins.

What I notice on the youtube picture though is it is not a picture of a rose but of a helleborus plant and blossom. Helleborus has beautiful green foliage and is cold-tolerant. It also has lovely blossoms. But! Every part of the helleborus plant is poisonous! I will let you decide whether that aspect fits into love or not.

Friendship is a holly tree,
That brightens as it grows,
Friendship is a holly tree,
But love is a Christmas rose!

Romance is the mistletoe,
That from the ceiling glows,
Romance is the mistletoe,
But love is a Christmas rose!

With this rose I give you,
On this Christmas day,
Can’t you see my darling,
What my heart has tried so hard to say?

Friendship is a holly tree (Friendship is a holly tree)
That brightens as it grows (That brightens as it grows)
Friendship is a holly tree (Friendship is a holly tree)
But love is a Christmas rose! (But love is a Christmas rose!)

Romance is the mistletoe (Romance is the mistletoe)
That from the ceiling glows (That from the ceiling glows)
Romance is the mistletoe (Romance is the mistletoe)
But love is a Christmas rose! (But love is a Christmas rose!)

Love is a Christmas rose! (Friendship is a holly tree)
Love is a Christmas rose! (Romance is the mistletoe)
Love is a Christmas rose . . . fade
Songwriters: Shuman / Carr