Edelweiss flower symbolism

Can someone enhance my knowledge of the symbolism of the Edelweiss flower. I see this flower on clothes, scarves, ornaments and jewelry. Is it a Bavarian thing? what's the story?

Ask and ye'shall recieve

Most of the one's you see here refer to the Deutscher Alpenverein; a network of clubs dedicated to walking and camping in huts in the alps. Parents-in-law are members and have the sticker on the car. If you see somebody wearing the symbol, chances are they'll also have calves like oak trunks.

I would say it was more of an Austrian thing than Bavarian, although it's true that the German Alpenverein have it as their symbol (so does the Austrian Alpenverein though). The Edelweiss grows at high altitude, of which there is relatively little in Bavaria.

It is a very popular symbol for the alps (every resort has at least one hotel called 'Edelweiss'), but I'm not sure why that particular flower gets all the attention.

It's one of the rarest flowers in the alps and only grows in high altitude. It was very difficult to reach. So if someone gave you a Edelweiss as a gift he risked a lot to show you his affection for you. And after all it's endemic in the alps.

He certainly did, prosecution for a start, it's illegal to pick edelweiss, it's a protected species, is that the right word for a plant?

No you know why it had to be protected.

To answer the initial question:

"Symbolic Alpine Beauty

(Edelweiß, Enzian & Almrausch)

Three very significant, rare and heavily protected plants, dearest to the hearts of all Alpine Mountain Folk are:

Edelweiß - signifying courage and a promise of fidelity from the courting Male

Enzian - The endless blue sky and loyalty

Almrausch (Alpenrose) - Cheerfulness and happiness during festive times"

This information is taken from This Page of my own website where you will find pictures of the Enzian and Almrausch (Alpenrose).

Yes Allershausen, these are all heavily protected plants, but the symbolism is such that people still pick them as gifts for their loved ones.

I did once see an Edelweiß on one of my Alpine walks and unfortunately, I decided to photograph it later on my return part of the walk. By then it had been picked by a man a couple of hundred metres ahead of me.
(I saw him pick it and saw him with it).

Instead of getting a photo of the Edelweiß, I took a photo of his car, showing the number plate which made him extremely angry, but when I enquired later I was told that nobody would prosecute as most people picked Edelweiß and the authorities just didn't seem to care.
But that was in Süd Tirol and not in Germany.

MT

It's popular because of that song from The Sound of Music.

Another nifty factoid: If you go to the Alte Pinakothek and look at paintings in which Mary is being informed by Gabirel that she is pregnant, there is always a stalk of Edelweiss in the foreground, symbolizing her purity, i.e., that the conception is immaculate.

These must be German paintings. I believe the Italians usually put in a lily.

I bought one in Edeka and put it in the garden. Grew into a scabby looking thing actually. Stick with Dahlias!

g24, you should really restrict paintings to indoors only.