In Croatia there is a custom of sowing wheat in small pots in the house, in preparation for Christmas. Wheat is usually sown on the day of St. Lucy, on the 13th of December
Wheat then grows until Christmas and it is often decorated with tricolored lace in the colours of the national flag (red, white and blue) and it is a part of traditional Christmas house decorations. This custom is not endemic to Croatia, some other European countries have it too in similar form, but in Croatia it is very common and widespread. Namely, whoever thinks about Christmas traditions in Croatia must think of wheat on the festive table or under the Christmas tree.
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The origin of this tradition is not known with certainty, but it might have pagan roots connected to fertility and presumptions about the oncoming harvest in the next year, because in many traditional households the quality of the Christmas wheat was considered a sign of the quality of crops in the following year. Nevertheless, the origin of Christmas wheat can also have a great connection with the Christmas mystery as a sign of new life that is beginning with the birth of Christ, as well as a sprout of the new bread in the time when we celebrate the birth of Christ, the living bread given for the life of the world (John 6, 51). So, likely this custom had pagan origins that were transformed by Christianity as it is the case with some other traditions too.
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When we look at Christian symbolism of the tradition of growing wheat, as a sign that life prevails in desolate times and a sign that there is a new hope, it can be analysed on a broader scale if we look at the phenomenon on how the wheat grows in the first place. Wheat grows because it follows its nature, it unmistakably does what it is supposed to do when planted, and it does not fall astray from its purpose of growing and giving fruit unless somehow corrupted from outside or dead. The wheat being just a plant actually has no choice to do otherwise, but since it also has no free will or a mind of its own we cannot feel sorry for it not having a choice, we can only marvel at how perfectly it fulfils the plan, we can call that plan God’s will for the wheat – it grows and brings fruit. The seed, the nature, stays perfectly on track and thus allows new life to come, it allows the promise to be fulfilled. When God has created nature he said ‘it is good…and it was good’ (Gen 1), we can also see and agree that it is good, staying on track of what God has intended is good, it brings good to us. The marvellous thing is also that God said that a human being is ‘very good’ which means that we can do even greater things in bringing hope and new life than the nature and the wheat can. We can actually willingly participate in the world, we can be collaborators with God, we can choose ‘good’ and even multiply it, not just passively fulfil it like the nature. But, for that to happen it is also necessary that we stay on track with ‘the plan’, God’s plan which is good. Original sin makes that difficult for us, there is pain and there is suffering in the world so we are often tempted to give up. It is said: those who persevere to the end will be saved (Mt 24, 13). Unfortunately, we often question this concept and often calculate is it worth to be on the side of the good, of the life and of the hope? We are often prone to give up and go astray, even on purpose, if we decide it is not worth our time and effort.
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But, how can we stay faithful? The wheat and the whole of nature has a bond with its purpose that cannot be questioned or undone. Human being, on the other hand, can question, leave and fail its purpose. To prevent that it is necessary to seek a connection with the Source, with the Father of all things. We can learn how to do that from Jesus, he always looked to the Father and always took consult from Him, and he hasn’t done anything of his own accord (John 12, 49). We, as conscious beings unlike the nature, need to take conscious steps into the relationship with God and if we stay close to the Father, then it is possible to fulfil God’s plan. Also, if we seek and trust God’s guidance we will see that His promises do not fail to unravel before our eyes even if we do not see them yet. Let’s learn from the wheat…