This is the story of how the #pussywillow got its name. It's a very cute folktale involving adorable little #kittens.
The story is of #Polish origin that tells of some kittens playing down by the #river. They skipped and pranced and chased butterflies on the water's edge.
But they got too close to the water and the clumsy kittens fell in. Their mother cried out for help, the kittens were drowning, they couldn't swim.
The nearby #willow heard the cries and swept its branches down. The kittens grabbed hold as the willow lifted its stems out of the water, its branches now covered with tiny little kittens clinging on for dear life.
Now each year in #springtime the willow likes to remember all the kittens that it saved. It does this by growing buds that look like cat paws on its branches where the little kittens hung on.
This is how the pussy willow got its name. 🐈🐾
Did you know...
🌿 Pussy willow is the name given to smaller willow plants that have these furry buds called #catkins
🌿 It is only the male plants that #flower
🌿 There are different species of pussy willow, including goat willow, grey willow and American pussy willow
Pussy willow is used in various traditions all around the world!
In #China they use pussy willow to celebrate the #LunarNewYear. People decorate branches of pussy willow in their homes with gold and red ornaments representing #happiness. The catkins resemble silk and when they sprout green shoots this is a sign of #prosperity.
In Slavic nations they use pussy willow on #PalmSunday to whip children. A friend of mine has traumatic memories of the ritualistic swatting. A chant is said during the whipping to bring good health, beauty and wealth. The twigs are then kept as sacred charms to bring blessings to the house and to prevent #lightening strikes, protect animals and encourage honey production. It is also forbidden to brush your hair on this day because it is believed that you will get lice and they will grow as big and plentiful as the catkins.
In #Persia and #Iran the #Zoroastrians have an ancient festival called #Nowruz that celebrates the first day of spring. It features a "Haft-Seen" table that contains seven sacred items of which the pussy willow often features. In the Middle East the distilled flower of the pussy willow is also used in traditional medicine.
Do you know any other ways pussy willow is used, or any other stories or traditions it features in? Please let us know below!
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