Hellebores: Austrian "Christmas Roses"

Hellebores are the first spring flowers to bloom in our yard. They appeared from under the snow in March, and now, in early May, they are still in bloom.

A few years ago, I planted three where I could view them through the window. Their leaves stay green throughout the winter and, amazingly, as soon as the snow disappears, they start to bloom.

I wonder if they are native to the mountains of Austria. Recently I read that in Austria, they are called "Christmas roses" because they bloom in December:

 ... on a sunny day between snowstorms, dry patches appeared on the southern slopes, [and] we'd look and find them right under the snow, moon-white blooms... These winter roses, five pale petals and a tiny crown in the center were stars from a world without seasons... 

[This poetic description is a quote from the book, Gratefulness, The Heart of Prayer by Brother David Steindl-Rast, a native of Austria.]