|
|
For a flower that joyfully embodies the rebirth and renewal spirit of spring, it‘s fascinating to find that the ancient Greeks linked the narcissus directly with death. These were the flowers they wove into elaborate funeral garlands and laid on the graves of their dead. Hades, god of the underworld, abducted Persephone who had been drawn by their perfume to pick these flowers. Naricissus, the beautiful Greek youth who fell in love with his own reflection, drowned from his obsession. Echo, the nymph whose love he rejected, died of a broken heart in a cavern and left only her voice behind.
Its name comes from the ancient, pre-myth Greek word narce which means narcotic - a reference to their mistaken belief that the perfume of the most heavily scented varieties had the effect of making people drowsy. Their other mistake was using the sap from the stem to heal cuts: the sap of the narcissus actually contains microscopic, sharp crystals which, while useful for warding off insects that might attack the plant, is an irritant to human skin. |
 |
Though the narcissus began its association with human civilization in the western world, it wasn’t long before it hit the road in search of adventure. It’s one of the only garden plants to go against the tide, travelling east to establish itself successfully in China. Here it was embraced as one of the three flowers symbolicaly associated with the most important of all festivals: Chinese New Year. In Chinese they are called ‘water fairies’ (shuixian hua ) or ‘lucky lily’, and symbolize prosperity and benevolence.
For centuries narcissus have been cultivated exclusively in Fujian province and sent to market just in time for New Years. A local legend that tells of their magical origin: a starving beggar came to the door of an old woman’s house, asking her if she could spare a bowl of rice. The old woman was very poor and had been saving her last bowl of rice for her selfish, lazy son. Taking pity on the beggar, she gave it to him. As he finished the meal, he dropped several grains of rice on the ground, and carried on his journey. The next morning three narcissus bloomed where the rice had fallen. The old woman carefully cultivated the wonderful flowers and soon gained fame and fortune by selling them throughout the province.
|
|
Narcissus bulbs are painstakingly, even elaborately forced, first in the production process, then in the home, too ensure that they will bloom on New Years Day. The New Years containers for the plants are often handed down from generation to generation within families, and bragging rights go to those who have the skill to produce the best-timed blooms.
Unique in its west to east travel, the narcissus has found a home in the hearts of any who take the time to appreciate it. Literary references to the flower go back thousands of years, but the most famous must be this one:
Let him who hath two loaves sell one
And buy a flower of narcissus
For bread is but food for the belly;
Whereas narcissus is food for the soul
(Mohhamed)
|
|
|
