If you want to live in harmony and happiness - decorate your life with flowers. That is what the ancient philosophers said. They not only loved plants, but also worshiped them and conducted confidential conversations with them. Interesting stories told about the healing qualities of flowers, which eventually turned into myths. Especially a lot of tales about the same grass, the queen of the reservoirs, which was sacredly honored both in ancient Russia and in other countries of the world.
Nymphs
One can see grass on the mirror surface of a lake or pond. In another way, it is often called a water lily or water lily. Ancient peoples identified this flower with a beautiful nymph, who turned into a plant due to a broken heart.
The legend of the
same-grass plant, known to us from Greek myths, tells us that a marvelous flower arose from the body of a nymph. The young creature died because the beloved nymph Hercules did not reciprocate. In this country, the water lily was considered the brother of the Egyptian lotus, a symbol of female beauty and oratory of eloquence. Young girls believed that they would retain their youth and the beautiful contours of the face and body for a long time if they wore a wreath of grass-lolly on their heads. The flower was also woven into the hair and tunics decorated with it, hung in front of the entrance to the bedroom of a young couple.
In Germany, they also believed that the water lily used to be a nymph. She did not have a soul in the knight, but he remained indifferent. From grief and hopelessness, she became a beautiful water flower. The same grass, the legend of which has been passed down from generation to generation, has become a symbol of unhappy love.
Elves
These fabulous creatures are also directly related to the water lily. Danish legend about a grass-bearing plant is used by Hans Christian Andersen in the tale "Thumbelina". Remember, at the end of the story, the main character found her love - the beautiful prince elf? He and other tiny winged creatures lived in flower buds, including beautiful water lilies. The Danes believed that in every water lily there is an elf who is born and dies with the plant. During the day, fabulous creatures sleep in buds, and at night they use them as bells: they swing the pestle and ring the whole district. Other elves are enchanted listening to music, sitting on sheets of water lilies and dangling their legs in the water. They conduct quiet and smart conversations that are inaccessible to the ears of ordinary mortals.
There is another version of the legend. The same grass, a legend about which has survived from the ancient peoples living in the territory of modern Ireland, was considered the favorite place of the elves. Leaving their underwater halls, at night they appeared above the water surface and, as if on a swing, frolic on the petals of beautiful water lilies.
Mermaids
Ancient legends tell that these creatures live in the depths of the sea, at the bottom of rivers and ponds. Many people think that nymphs and mermaids are one and the same thing. But this is not so. Nymphs, according to Greek mythology, are the spirits of not only reservoirs, but also forests, fields, air. Their water representatives, molluscs, have no tail. At mermaids he is present.
Our ancestors believed that the grass slide - a water lily or water lily - turned into a flower mermaid. According to legend, at night the buds sink to the bottom and become these lovely creatures. With the first rays of the sun, mermaids rise to the surface, where they again take the form of bewitching white water lilies. In ancient times, our ancestors believed that the grass slide is a symbol of tailed beauties. She was often called the "mermaid flower." Perhaps that is why botanists officially call this flower Nymphaeum Candida, which means a nymph mermaid.
There are many legends about mermaids and grass-laden ones. Another of them says that water lilies are a refuge for little mermaids. At night, they leave the buds and dance, enticing curious passers-by into the water abyss. Even if someone managed to escape from the spell of these girls, he suffered and lost his mind.
Other versions
Legends and legends associated with water lilies exist among other peoples of the world. For example, North American Indians believed that these flowers came from one great leader. Before his death, he fired his happy arrow into the sky. Two shining stars tried to take possession of it, but, colliding in battle, scattered into many small sparks. The lights fell on the water surface and turned into water lilies. According to another legend, Norman, flowers of the same grass are the children of the beautiful countess. The kids were captured by the swamp king, who turned them into miracle buds.
Italians have their own version of the origin of flowers. They claim that in ancient times there was a huge swamp between Pisa and Naples. The shaggy creature living in him wanted to marry Melinda, a young girl who often walked on the shore of a reservoir. To deceive the beauty, he created the flowers of the yellow capsule. Melinda leaned over to take a closer look at the
unusual flower, and at the same moment the monster's strong hand carried her into the abyss. Where the girl disappeared, water lilies surfaced. Since then, in Italy, grass overlooking is a symbol of innocence and naivety, and the egg capsules are treason, deception and flattery.
Tales of the Slavs
Our distant ancestors who lived on the territory of Kievan Rus called the water lily the same grass. They associated white buds with the cold beauty of mermaids, the bends of petals with the excellent grace of these creatures. They compared the flexible rhizome of a plant with a long mermaid tail, and the ability of a flower to disappear in the depths of the pond with the inborn gift of mermaids to spend a long time at the bottom of a pond.
The legend of the same-grass plant in Russia is also associated with nymphs. One version claims that the water lily buds are beautiful mythical girls imprisoned in the shell of a plant. Only once a year they are allowed to regain their human appearance. In the first week of June, water lilies turn into bold young creatures with long hair. They go ashore, sing, dance and frolic. And God forbid a man to see these festivities! Flirty nymphs will not miss the opportunity to tickle an accidental witness of their games and drag them into the depths of the lake.
The magic power of water lilies
The same grass is a Slavic amulet that from ancient times guarded our ancestors from evil spirits and evil eyes. The flower was considered the protector of travelers and wanderers. Before a man set off on a long journey, he put on his neck an incense, in the middle of which a dried root of a water lily was planted. He was talked about, after which magical power guarded the traveler not only from the difficulties of the long journey, but also from illness, hunger and cold. The same grass got the corresponding name, since it can overcome any misfortunes.
Ancient healers advised to collect the plant only at night and pluck it exclusively in a hanging position. In another case, it will lose its magical and healing properties. Only people with pure thoughts and soul could follow the footsteps of the grass. βOnly a truly kind person can find the root of a water lily,β said the Slavs. They also believed that a decoction of it helps with toothache and poisoning. He is able to melt the heart of a obstinate youth and make him fall in love. Therefore, girls often used the root of the flower for love spells and conspiracies. The shepherds, holding the same grass in their hands, went around the herd so that the cattle would breed and not suffer from diseases.
Powerful amulet
The ancient Slavs sacredly believed in the power of various talismans and charmed things. They argued that an effective talisman is a double combination: fern flower, grass control. In ancient times, these plants were planted on two sides by incense - to attract good luck and health. Nowadays, you can order an amulet in a specialized store, the different sides of which are decorated with symbols of these colors.
The same grass can protect against ailments, disabilities, and fatal infections. Anyone who wears a medallion with her image on her chest will be protected from the effects of the evil eye and damage, and a long and happy life will be provided for him. It is clear that the action of the amulet will be much stronger if, instead of drawing a symbol of the grass, it will contain dried particles of a real plant.
At the same time, the color of fern on the other side of the talisman promises a person not only material wealth, but also spiritual wealth. Anyone who has such an amulet will be able to find a treasure, become successful in business, get a good job and become successful. And also to gain pure thoughts, good intentions and good goals.
Water lily in medicine
The healing properties of the plant were described in detail by the outstanding herbalist Rim Akhmetov in his book. The same grass, according to his personal experience and experiments, helps with nervous and female diseases, it is able to fight even with such serious ailments as cancer and tuberculosis. Nowadays, rhizomes of water lilies are often used by pharmacists in the manufacture of Zdrenko potions, which are treated for ulcers, gastritis, disorders of the stomach and bladder.
Traditional medicine offers many recipes containing this plant. For example, oil extracts that can act on tumors are made from rhizomes of the same grass. Broth is drunk for kidney diseases. The drink is also able to reduce pressure and stop bleeding. If the root is dried and ground, then it can be used as mustard in myalgia and neuralgia. Wounds that poorly heal and fester are sprinkled with the same powder.
Tincture from the petals of a water lily helps with insomnia, fever, nervousness, anemia, heart rhythm disturbances. Fluid rubbed sore spots with rheumatism and radiculitis. But this is far from all the possibilities of the plant, says Rim Akhmetov. The same grass also increases potency, treats infertility, injuries after childbirth, sclerosis, frostbite, fungal diseases and many other ailments.
Water lily as a cosmetic
The grass slide in Russia was considered an effective way to preserve beauty and youth. The girls made a decoction of flowers, washed their face and hands, rinsed ringlets. It was believed that after such procedures, the skin will become supple, smooth and soft. Defects such as acne and age spots will no longer disfigure the face. As for the hair, their broth made it thicker and healthier. Their magical brilliance drove the young men crazy and for a long time fascinated the owner of beautiful hair.
Today, an infusion of water lily does not give up its position in cosmetology. It is believed that liquid is a good external painkiller. She is able to get rid of freckles and other cosmetic skin problems. The legend of the same-grass plant says that the woman who does the procedure using the petals and rhizomes of a water lily will remain young and beautiful for a long time. It is not worth believing these legends to the end. But there is no doubt that they are based on concrete examples and life experience.