Marian Flowers and Herbs in Kindergarten Songs
fro...@albany.net
Friedrich Froebel, founder of kindergarten and perhaps one of the best
known pre-school educators, was raised in an orthodox Lutheran home in
the Thuringian Forest of Germany. As in other liturgical church
bodies, Mary ( St. Mary's Day is also a Lutheran Commemoration) is
regarded as perhaps the best example of obedience to God; she was
totally submissive and accepting of God's purpose for her life.
Froebel is quoted as having said to his greated proponent, the
Baroness Bertha Marie von Marenholtz-Buelow, that he hoped "Women
would teach childen as Mary taught Our Saviour." In fact his favorite
painting at the Jadgschloss Marienthal (Vale of the Maries) in the
Thuringian Forest, was one of the Madonna and Child. It is no mystery
that Marian symbology is so evident in his work. The following
selection is from Swedish Froebel research to be found at the Jena,
Germany Froebel site which is linked to Froebel Gallery at
www.albany.net/~froebel/
Soli Deo Gloria
JFP
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Flowers in "Mutter- und Koselieder" dedicated to the Virgin Mary
Many flowers in "Mutter- und Koselieder" are dedicated to the Virgin
Mary. In the pictures in this paper you can first of all see lilies of
various kinds for example at the Title-Page. The lily is a symbol of
childhood and innocence. The Iris at "The Bridge" (A 15) is a symbol
of the rainbow (mediator betwwn two opposites) and of the Virgin Mary.
Field-Bind-Weed and roses frames the "Flower-Basket (A 22). The rose
is attributed to the Virgin Mary, the Mystic Rose and also the
field-bind-weed because it tries to reach heaven.
In "The Family" you find branches on the trees which forms flowers
with five petals, alluding to the letters of the Virgin Marys name
(Maria) but also to the five senses. There is also a small flower with
five petals at bottom of the picture.
In "The Little Gardener" (A 16) you can find a Columbine with five
flowers. The five dove-like flowers allude to the five letters in
Maria. Flowers dedicated to the Virgin Mary often are medicine-plants.
It alludes to her and Christ's ability to heal. In Cathedrals, The
Virgin Mary's Gardens, are paintings with medicine-plants usual.