The Blue Columbine has legends of religious association. As they age, the petals fall from the plant and each individual petal with spur attached resembled a slipper. The legend says Columbine plants arose wherever Mary, the mother of Jesus, stepped on her way to visit her cousin Elizabeth. This is why the Columbine sometimes goes by the common name Our Lady's Shoes or the Virgin Mary's Shoes. Others see the Columbine flower's resemblance to a dove as representing the Holy Spirit.