Poppy
Blooms:
late spring, summer (English flower for August and the Chinese flower for December)
Language:
general- Eternal sleep, rest, repose.
red -Pleasure; consolation
white- Consolation; sleep
yellow- Wealth; success
Emblems:
State flower of California.
Commemoration for those who died in war in the UK, New Zealand, Australia and Canada- (red poppies)
Mythology/ Folklore
Ancient Greeks thought that poppies were a sign of fertility and placed garlands of poppy blossoms at the shrines of Demeter, goddess of fertility, and Diana, goddess of the hunt.
Poppy was dedicated to Venus.
In Greco-Roman myths, poppies were also used as offerings to the dead
Country girls in Europe played fortune telling games with petals from poppies. Placing a poppy petal in her lover's hand, a girl would hit it with the edge of her own hand. If a loud popping noise resulted, it meant he was true to her. If the petal broke silently, it meant that he had been unfaithful.
late spring, summer (English flower for August and the Chinese flower for December)
Language:
general- Eternal sleep, rest, repose.
red -Pleasure; consolation
white- Consolation; sleep
yellow- Wealth; success
Emblems:
State flower of California.
Commemoration for those who died in war in the UK, New Zealand, Australia and Canada- (red poppies)
Mythology/ Folklore
Ancient Greeks thought that poppies were a sign of fertility and placed garlands of poppy blossoms at the shrines of Demeter, goddess of fertility, and Diana, goddess of the hunt.
Poppy was dedicated to Venus.
In Greco-Roman myths, poppies were also used as offerings to the dead
Country girls in Europe played fortune telling games with petals from poppies. Placing a poppy petal in her lover's hand, a girl would hit it with the edge of her own hand. If a loud popping noise resulted, it meant he was true to her. If the petal broke silently, it meant that he had been unfaithful.
History/ Modern Use:
Poppy, from its somniferous effect, has been made symbolic of sleep and oblivion, hence Virgil calls it the Lethean poppy,
*Lethe= a river in Hades whose water when drunk made the souls of the dead forget their life on earth.
Egyptians felt that poppies were a necessary part of funerals and burial rituals and were essential for assuring life after death. Dried poppy petals have been found in tombs dating back 3,000 years.
Early Romans used juice from the poppy plant for witchcraft. It was thought to be particularly effective in easing the pains of love.
The Greeks also used poppy seeds as a love charm. They were also thought to bring strength and health, and Greek Olympic athletes were given mixtures of poppy seeds, honey, and wine.
The corn poppy is native to the Mediterranean areas of Europe, and does not contain opium like the Oriental poppies. Instead, corn poppies contain 'rhoeadine' and has been used as a mild sedative.
Red poppies which followed the plowing of the field of Waterloo after the Duke of Wellington's victory were said to have sprung from the blood of the troops who fell during the engagement.
The corn poppy is most famous to an emblem that commemorates those who died in wars. This custom began after WWI when thousands of poppies bloomed on the battlefields of Flanders. (immortalized in a poem by John McCrae “In Flanders Fields.”
In 1921, England celebrated Poppy Day. On this day, thousands of poppies were made and sold to families of war veterans.
Literature/Arts
In the Garden scene in 'Faust,” Margaret selects poppies as the floral indication to learn the truth regarding Faust--
“And that scarlet poppies around like a bower,/ the maiden found her mystic flower. / 'Now, gentle flower, I pray thee tell/ If my love loves, and loves me well;/ So may the fall of the morning dew/ Keep the sun from fading thy tender blue;/ Now I remember the leaves for my lot-- / He loves me not– he loves me- he loves me not- / He loves me! Yes, the last leaf- yes!/ I'll pluck thee not for that last sweet guess;/ He loves me!' 'Yes,' a dear voice sighed;/ And her lover stands by Margaret's side.”
In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, magical poppy fields are dangerous because they caused those who passed through them to sleep forever
Poppy, from its somniferous effect, has been made symbolic of sleep and oblivion, hence Virgil calls it the Lethean poppy,
*Lethe= a river in Hades whose water when drunk made the souls of the dead forget their life on earth.
Egyptians felt that poppies were a necessary part of funerals and burial rituals and were essential for assuring life after death. Dried poppy petals have been found in tombs dating back 3,000 years.
Early Romans used juice from the poppy plant for witchcraft. It was thought to be particularly effective in easing the pains of love.
The Greeks also used poppy seeds as a love charm. They were also thought to bring strength and health, and Greek Olympic athletes were given mixtures of poppy seeds, honey, and wine.
The corn poppy is native to the Mediterranean areas of Europe, and does not contain opium like the Oriental poppies. Instead, corn poppies contain 'rhoeadine' and has been used as a mild sedative.
Red poppies which followed the plowing of the field of Waterloo after the Duke of Wellington's victory were said to have sprung from the blood of the troops who fell during the engagement.
The corn poppy is most famous to an emblem that commemorates those who died in wars. This custom began after WWI when thousands of poppies bloomed on the battlefields of Flanders. (immortalized in a poem by John McCrae “In Flanders Fields.”
In 1921, England celebrated Poppy Day. On this day, thousands of poppies were made and sold to families of war veterans.
Literature/Arts
In the Garden scene in 'Faust,” Margaret selects poppies as the floral indication to learn the truth regarding Faust--
“And that scarlet poppies around like a bower,/ the maiden found her mystic flower. / 'Now, gentle flower, I pray thee tell/ If my love loves, and loves me well;/ So may the fall of the morning dew/ Keep the sun from fading thy tender blue;/ Now I remember the leaves for my lot-- / He loves me not– he loves me- he loves me not- / He loves me! Yes, the last leaf- yes!/ I'll pluck thee not for that last sweet guess;/ He loves me!' 'Yes,' a dear voice sighed;/ And her lover stands by Margaret's side.”
In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, magical poppy fields are dangerous because they caused those who passed through them to sleep forever
