|
|
|
|
Answers to Spring Equinox Quix
Green Sprouts - Nawruz
Green sprouts are one the seven items that must be on the table to celebrate the Iranian new year on Spring Equinox. Wheat, barley or lentil sprouts in a dish symbolize rebirth and prosperity. Lotus - Kwan Yin Kwan Yin, a goddess often associated with Spring, was born of the lotus, a flower symbolizing the purity of the soul rising within the material world. Roses - Chloris The Rose is the flower of love. It was created by Chloris, the Greek goddess of flowers, but of a lifeless body of a nymph which she found one day in a clearing in the woods. She asked the help of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who gave her beauty; Dionysus, the god of wine, added nectar to give her a sweet scent, and the three Graces gave her charm, brightness and joy. Then Zephyr, the West Wind, blew away the clouds so that Apollo, the sun god, could shine and make the flower bloom. And so the Rose was born and was immediately crowned Queen of the Flowers." Quoted from Pickles, Sheila. The Language of Flowers (New York: Harmony Books, 1989). White Lily - Virgin Mary The pure white lily symbolizes purity, hope, virtue, innocence and life. It has become a symbol of Easter. Red Anemone - Adonis According to ancient myth, Adonis was loved widely and intensely by all, but by none more than Venus. She brought him to Persephone, who also loved him greatly, and who refused to return him to Venus. Ultimately, Jupiter intervened and ruled that Adonis should spend half the year with each. It is during his time spent with Venus that Adonis came to his unfortunate end. Venus usually followed Adonis during his daily activities, but on one particular summer day she was remiss in her usual attentiveness. Adonis, in his attempts to kill a wild boar, only succeeded in wounding the beast with his spear. The boar charged at him, goring Adonis with his tusks. As he lay dying, Venus swooped low to the earth, and kissed him as he died. According to myth, a red anemone, Adonis' flower, grew from the earth in every spot his blood dropped. And so, each season when the red anemone blooms, Greek girls rejoiced at the return of Adonis, and mourned for the remainder of the year. Narcissus - Persephone Narcissus was the flower that lured Persephone to her fate. When she picked the narcissus, the earth opened and she was swept into the Underworld by Hades. Each Spring, Persephone returns, with flowers, but must go back to the Underworld every autumn, taking the flowers with her. Hellebore - cure for madness In Greek mythology, Melampus of Pylos used hellebore to save the daughters of the king of Argos from a Dionysian Maenad-like madness. Oak, broom & meadowsweet - Blodeuwedd Oak, broom and meadowsweet were conjured by Gwydion, according to Welsh myth, to create a flower-woman as a bride for his nephew Llew Llaw Gyffes, who was forbidden to marry a mortal woman. Read the story here. Cowslips - fairy umbrellas Fairies use cowslip blossoms for umbrellas and they protect these plants. Edmund Canterbell wrote: "That they do dwell within the cowlips hollow is truth for I have seen them fly out in intoxicated abandon." Cowslips can help you find fairy treasure and keys to unlock fairy gold. Violets -Attis Under a spell of madness, Attis killed himself and where his blood fell to earth, violets grew. He was reborn as an evergreen pine. |
Courtyard
~ Table of Contents ~
Feverfew
Lavender Ladybugs Thyme Bay Laurel Mint Nettles for Spring Sun-Infused Calendula Healing Salve Fiddleheads Daffodil Quiz Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: APPLE Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: BOX SPRIGS Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Hawthorn Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Magical Fern Seeds Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Mystic Mistletoe Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: EGLANTINE Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08 - GARLIC Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: FLAX BLOSSOMS Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: GREEN WHEAT EARS Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08: THE CHARM OF IVY Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08: MARIGOLDS AND MAIDENS Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: THE SACRED OAK Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: VERVAIN |
