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From: Stewart
Remote Name: 138.162.8.58
Date: 09/08/2009
Time: 08:08:02 AM
I would look up Edelweiss on line for fuller discussions of the traditions. It's not so much an abstract symbol as a practical one. It was very much a tradition, mainly 19th century, of the Germanic people in the Alps (Bavaria, Switzerland, Tyrol). Climbing the high peaks to bring back a flower for one's girl was the height of romanticism. It also was the cause of many fatal falls, and led to the flower becoming an endangered species. Edelweise is now protected from picking in the region (it is a very slow growing plant). Also interestingly, it is now grown commercially in the Canadian Rockies, and it is fairly common in Finland (being further north is similar to being at high altitude). But the Finns have no similar tradition.