PLANTS
FIR TREE: the figure of the fir tree is a powerful talisman for Chinese people who often give it as a gift for friends who are departing: the fir tree is an evergreen and for this is symbol of eternity and long-lasting love. In many conuntries is believed that fir cones bring good luck: in Greece and in Rome fir cones was symbol of Cybele, Goddess of fertile earth and in fact they was used to put some fir cones on the top of high poles in vineyards and gardens to protect them from freezing; this habit still exist today in Italy and England where fir cones made of stone are a very common ornaments in the poles of the edges in the gardens while on the gates is easy to see iron fir cones.
WORMWOOD: Astrology says that wormwood is a plant sacred to Mercury, anyway this is the special plant of lovers: love oaths done close to a wormwood will be surely mantained. As amulet is necessary to pick a branch of this plant and put it together with some gifts for your lover. A famous ritual in which this plant is used is this: if a girl want to know if she is loved or not, she must pick a little branch from the wormwood pronouncing in the same moment the name of her love, she must put the branch of the palm of the hand and then she clap one hand on the other in way that the branch is squashed; if from the branch emanate a light scent, the love doesn’t love her, if the scent is strong the man is in love.
BEANS:
they disperse evil influences, they protect children and procure richness; beans
was considered the symbol of immortality since they conserve their vital force
for loooooooooooong time (some beans found in ancient Egyptian tombs once
brought to surface have sprouted, and this after something like 4,000 years!).
Romans threw beans in the fire during rituals and in Scotland were worn beans
necklace as a protection against witchcraft. So all those beans you collect in
HOL are actually protecting you :) Try to collect as much as possible.
Beans were much important in the past during Christmas time: even today in many
countries there is the habit to put some coins in Christmas sweets, and who eat
the piece of sweet with the coin will have good luck for all the year; in origin
instead of coins there were beans and who found the bean in the sweet was
proclaimed king of the party. The bean was very important also as love amulet;
an ancient legend says that if a lady wants to gain the love of a man or if she
wants to become reconciled with an unfaithful lover,
she has to put 7 beans in circle on the street that this man will have to cover
and wait hidden; if the man pass over the beans (or treads on them) he will go
to her and will declare to her his love, but he pass far from the beans the
charm failed.
ROSEMARY: lovers or far away friends are used
to give to each other a branch of rosemary as amulet: rosemary means “I think
about you” and its branch has the power to keep alive the memory of who gave it
to you. According astrology rosemary is a plant of Aries, so its power is
stronger on people born under this sign.
In the past it was used both for its occul powers and its healing properties:
doctors prescribed a decoction of rosemary in the morning to enforce the memory
and astrologers said that a leaf of rosemary kept in a pocket was a remedy
against forgetfulness.
Rosemary since ancient times was used both in weddings and funerals, you could
find it in the bride bouquet and on the coffins, as symbol of constant and
eternal love.
ACORN:
acorn is symbol of immortality, of life that grows from earth; bring an acorn
means keep away illness and ensure to yourself a good life.
It protects who bring it especially from cholera and is interesting to know that
even today in some countries is used a powdered acorn in the milk as remedy for
any kind of stomachache.
Gypsies say that if an abandoned fiancé use an acorn as amulet, this will make
her lover come back. For this the girl must put under her pillow for three
nights a little branch of oak with the acorn attacched.
© 2007 Orphy | Design by Andreas Viklund