The natural world is amazingly diverse and beautiful. But cherry blossoms can truly be called a miracle. Blooming in early spring, they dress up every branch of the tree in gorgeous white or soft pink outfits. From ancient times to the present, cherry flowers evoke admiration, the most tender and touching feelings. About these flowers they compose poems and sing songs. Artists transfer the unsurpassed beauty of the cherry blossom to their canvases.
Due to the unpretentiousness of these plants, resistance to dry weather and frost, the geography of cherry trees is extensive. They can be found in every corner of our planet. Cherry trees adorn gardens, parks, squares, lawns. This tree also grows on the side of the road, pleasing the eye of any person passing or passing by.
A bit of history
Cherry became known to people long before writing appeared. The peoples of the Mediterranean learned about it earlier than others, from where it came to the Caucasus and Persia. Later, the Romans appreciated the cherry. And already in the first century AD, it became widespread throughout Europe: it began to be grown in Britain, the Germans and Belgians liked the flowering cherry. But inRussia, it appeared much later.
Thus, during the reign of Yuri Dolgorukov, the cherry orchard was the decoration of any corner of Moscow, the flowers of which fascinated with their beauty and aroma. The founder of Moscow brought cherries from Kyiv. She became the first fruit tree to be grown in Russia. At first, only the inhabitants of the royal estates and monasteries enjoyed and admired the taste of fruits and the beauty of flowers, and only in the fifteenth century the cherry moved to peasant farmsteads, having won universal love.
Cherry blossom
Any flowering tree is beautiful, but cherry is a special admiration. When you look at cherry blossoms, you want to sing, read poetry, do something good. It is no coincidence that the cherry tree is so fond of the people. In Varna, for example, cherry trees can be found everywhere. They decorate squares, parks, gardens and courtyards of the city. And in Taiwan, there are annual festivals in honor of cherry blossoms. Tourists from all over the world come to the festival. Similar festivals are held in Washington DC and Macon, Uzhhorod and Seoul. They originate from the time when cherry seedlings were presented to an American friend in 1912 by the Mayor of Tokyo.
When you look at pictures of cherry blossoms in all their glory, it is impossible to resist the desire to see this miracle in reality. Cherry during flowering could not be ignored by poets, artists, writers. In Russia and Japan, in Ukraine and Bulgaria, in Taiwan and America, they sing in their works of cherry blossoms, which symbolizethe beginning of spring, love, tenderness, youth and rebirth.
Cherry blossom: structure
Cherry flower is attached to a short pedicel, which expands upwards, forming a receptacle. A calyx with sepals and five pale pink petals are attached to it, forming a corolla. Inside the flower are stamens and pistil. In the lower, expanding part of the pistil is the ovary, in the upper part of which the stigma is located. Only one fruit develops in the ovary of a flower. Cherry flowers, depending on the type of tree, are white and pale pink.
During flowering, the cherry tree is shrouded, like a bride's wedding dress, in snow-white flowers with a pinkish tint, collected in bunches in lush inflorescences. This spectacle leaves no one indifferent.
Cherry flowers and their beneficial properties
Cherry blossoms, the photos of which you see, attract toiling bees. Thanks to their tireless efforts, a favorite delicacy of both children and adults appears on our table - cherry honey. It has a tonic, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effect on the human body. The use of honey improves immunity.
From cherry blossoms, fragrant, insanely delicious tea is brewed, which contains a lot of organic acids, trace elements and minerals.
Legends, rituals and beliefs associated with cherries
Cherry was firmly rooted in folk life at the time of Christianity, while almost all legends were born in pagan times, when everything was deified, and treesendowed with signs of animate beings. Therefore, there are few legends about the cherry, the beauty of its flowers.
According to Christian traditions, cherry is considered a symbol of human life due to the unique flowering of this tree. It blooms first, and then leaves. So is a man: he was born naked into this world, he leaves it naked.
Cherry in Ukraine is a symbol of the native land, mother. A flowering tree symbolizes a girl, a bride. The symbol of a happy family life is the cherry orchard. For any Ukrainian, whether he comes from a city or a village, the image of a cherry symbolizes his father's house.
Cherry has long been revered by our ancestors. They believed in the existence of her powerful patron God Kernis. In order for him to help get a good harvest, he had to be appeased, for which candles were lit on flowering trees. Around the cherry blossoms, the spring New Year's rite of the ancient Slavs was performed.
This pagan rite, according to legend, was later performed in Germany. To do this, they grew a flowering cherry tree for the New Year, decorated it with burning candles.
Our ancestors had a sign: a cherry tree planted near the house will bring good luck and prosperity. The first date of lovers under this plant will bring them happiness.
If you dreamed of cherry and sakura flowers
People have long used the language of flowers to convey messages, invitations to visit, declarations of love. It was used to express admiration, sympathy, regret, hatred, disgust.
Color meanings were transferred to dreams. To see cherry blossoms in a dream is a good change in fate and good news. If in a dream you pick a cherry blossom, it means that you have tender feelings for your lover. It's good if you see cherry blossoms blooming before your eyes. This is a sign of recognition and appreciation of your abilities. Happy changes await you if you dream of cherry blossoms. Plant a tree in a dream - to great we alth.
The cherry blossom tree that you saw in a dream portends happiness and prosperity. Thanks to the openness of your character and selflessness, you will achieve great popularity, you will be tested by ardent mutual love.
Family people, having seen cherry blossoms in a dream, can hope for long-term happiness and peace in their family. If you have not yet started a family, this dream indicates that a person whom you will love forever will appear in your life very soon. Moreover, you will experience an ardent, unrequited feeling.
Sakura (decorative cherry) symbolizes purity and purity. If you dreamed of cherry blossoms, expect to meet a young, pure girl in reality.
Cherry flowers in tattoo
The cherry blossom branch is a favorite image on the skin of young girls who are not indifferent to Japanese and Chinese culture. Emphasizing the tenderness, vulnerability of the soul of its bearers, such a tattoo is very feminine. In Chinese beliefs, she symbolizes the beauty of a woman and sublime love. And in Japanese legends - the transience of life. Feelings, like flying cherry blossom petals,pass, leaving light sadness, sadness, a sense of loss or missed opportunity.
Today's cherry blossom tattoos emphasize the philosophical and contemplative attitude to life, aesthetics, short-lived beauty and tenderness.
The national symbol of Japan is sakura
The national symbol of Japan is sakura, or, as it is called, decorative cherry. Cherry blossoms resemble pale pink clouds or airy, almost weightless snow flakes. Pink clouds of flowers form a huge tent from the branches of ancient sakura, into which people rush from all over to admire the garlands of flowering branches descending to the ground.
The flowering of this plant, unfortunately, is a short-lived phenomenon. The wind will blow, or it will rain, and the delicate cherry blossoms fall as soon as they bloom. Perhaps that is why cherry blossoms in Japanese culture are a symbol of the impermanence of being, and in poetry - bygone youth and lost love. The Japanese carried the love for these flowers through many millennia.
Japanese tradition of admiring flowers
The tradition of admiring sakura during its flowering in Japan appeared long ago, during the reign of the Tang Dynasty. Aristocrats spent all their free time under a flowering tree: they listened to music, gambled and drank light refreshing drinks. During the reign of Emperor Saga, cherry blossom festivals began to be held. They gave rise to hanami - the modern tradition of admiring flowers.
In the era of the Reformation in the 19th centuryEverywhere in Japan, cherry trees began to be cut down, considering them to be remnants of feudalism. But after some time, the tradition of admiring flowers was revived again, and now this holiday is considered the most beloved in Japan. With awe and excitement, the Japanese are waiting for the beginning of the holiday to enjoy the pristine purity and amazing beauty of sakura flowers.
The modern khanami holiday begins in the capital, gradually moving to other cities and villages. Across the country, special headquarters are being created, where information about the time of cherry blossoms flows. The first blossoming bud of a magic flower immediately becomes known to everyone through the media.
With the beginning of the wild cherry blossoms, the holiday begins. People still gather under flowering trees near the walls of ancient monasteries, palaces, parks and gardens, enjoying the beauty of the sakura flower and pleasant conversation with loved ones.
Cherry Blossom Legends
Sakura flowers are delicate and beautiful. They personify human life, are considered the embodiment of the beauty of a Japanese woman. The Japanese people have many beliefs and legends associated with this flower.
The Japanese believe that every beautiful sakura flower, as it were, tells about the fate of a child. The legend, born in the distant past, is still alive in the memory of the Japanese people. It tells that once the foreman of a Japanese village called Sakura told the ruler of this village, Shogun, about the cruelty of the prince and brought his young children to him to show his battered backs. The ruler deservedly punished the prince, and he decidedrevenge on the complainant. He secretly grabbed the headman with his children, tied them tightly to a cherry tree and beat everyone to death. Since ancient times, cherry blossoms (decorative cherries) have a pinkish tint, as if they were sprinkled with the blood of innocent children. Thanks to this legend, sakura acquires a special mystique.
There is another legend about sakura: a very long time ago, in early spring, when the sakura blossomed, God Ninigi - the progenitor of people - married the youngest daughter of the God of mountains named Blossoming. The father of the young girl was very angry that Ninigi did not choose his eldest daughter as his wife, and prophesied for this couple and their descendants a fleeting life, like a sakura flower. Since then, the name Sakura has become popular in Japan.
Sakura flower is one of the most beautiful in the world
It's hard to imagine life without flowers. She would be boring, nondescript and sad. Most of all, the beautiful half of humanity loves flowers. Flowers give happiness, cheer up, reduce pain, help to cope with longing for a loved one. The aroma of the sakura flower and its impeccable appearance inspire a person to noble deeds. This flower decorates houses, parks, gardens.
In honor of the delicate, mysterious flower of sakura (decorative cherry), holidays and festivals around the world are held, coins with its image are issued. The cherry blossom is found everywhere in Japan. They decorate clothes, dishes, household items. His photographs can be seen on the covers of magazines, in showcases of salons and shops, on advertising brochures. It is no coincidence that the Japanese, with their sensitive souls and impeccable desire forbeauty consider the sakura flower the most beautiful in the world.
