Forest violets in legends, myths and rituals

Violets forest are flowers, to which many legends, myths and solemn rituals are dedicated to many peoples of the world. So, according to Russian popular belief, girls ate their roots to attract grooms. In the spring, having found the first forest violets on the fringe, the peasants must have eaten three flowers to stay the whole year. Therefore, the name of Old Russian at them beautiful - "любка".

In the Jewish folk epic, the forest violets owe their appearance to the weeping Adam, on the bounties of Eden. After the expulsion he and Eve settled in Ceylon. Feeling the difference between the island and paradise, he so repented of his sin that he continually asked for God's forgiveness. God the Supreme had mercy on him and sent to him with the message of the messenger - the Archangel Gabriel. When Adam learned about forgiveness, he burst into tears, and his tearful tears, touching the ground, turned into forest violets. Such a beautiful story explains the appearance on our planet of these wonderful flowers.

The symbol of Athens is the violet forest. Photo of the coins of the ancient Sicilian city of Genna in Italian museums also show the image of this noble flower. And in general, the ancient Romans, no holiday could not do without it. Forest violets they wore in bouquets, pinned to dresses. Poets composed poems, and musicians sang them in their works. There are peoples who have dedicated national holidays to this plant. For example, in Austria, violets are still celebrated every spring. Lush folk celebrations are held both in the center of Vienna, and in every provincial town.

It is interesting to explain the appearance of different myths and legends to the light of the forest violet. So, according to one version, we know that the intrigues of the loving Apollo served as the reason why each spring our forests are filled with the divine fragrance of these flowers. One of the beautiful daughters of Atlas liked him. And he began to burn her with his rays. To get rid of the pursuer, the girl turned to Zeus with a request to save her from this heat. The god relented, turned it into a forest violet and hid it in the forest coolness among his bushes.

According to another sad version, this divine flower grew earlier exclusively in heaven in a fragrant garden. He was loved by the daughter of Zeus Persephone. Once, at the moment when she gathered a large bouquet of heavenly violets, she was attacked by a kidnapper. It was the leader of the underworld and the patron of all the dead - Hades. When he dragged the beautiful goddess into his domain, she touched the ground, dropped the bouquet. Violets crumbled over her. Since then they live with us on earth.

But ancient galls do not attach this sad value to this flower. They honor it as a symbol of chastity and fidelity, so no wedding ceremony can do without the bouquets of violets. They decorate the bride's attire and sprinkle the newlyweds' bed.

The medieval tournaments of knights in Toulouse later became exclusively poetic competitions, which continue to be held in our time. The main reward for the winners is still the violet flower of violets poured out of gold. In addition, the first French perfume was produced on the basis of this fragrant plant.