Lily is a symbol of purity, a flower with a rich history. Name Lilia: meaning, origin and mystery

Our grandmothers, growing strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, were not particularly worried about mulching. But today this agricultural practice has become fundamental in achieving High Quality berries and reduce crop losses. Some might say it's troublesome. But practice shows that labor costs in this case pay off handsomely. In this article, we invite you to get acquainted with the nine the best materials for mulching garden strawberries.

Succulents are very versatile. Despite the fact that “kids” have always been considered more fashionable, the assortment of succulents with which you can decorate modern interior, it is worth taking a closer look. After all, colors, sizes, patterns, degree of pricklyness, influence on the interior are just a few of the parameters by which you can choose them. In this article we will talk about the five most fashionable succulents that miraculously transform modern interiors.

Mint was used by the Egyptians as far back as 1.5 thousand years BC. It has a strong aroma due to the high content of various essential oils with high volatility. Today, mint is used in medicine, perfumery, cosmetology, winemaking, cooking, ornamental gardening, and the confectionery industry. In this article, we will look at the most interesting varieties mint, and also talk about the features of growing this plant in the open field.

People began to grow crocuses 500 years before the advent of our era. Although the presence of these flowers in the garden is fleeting, we always look forward to the return of the heralds of spring next year. Crocuses - one of the earliest primroses, whose flowering begins as soon as the snow melts. However, the timing of flowering may vary depending on the species and varieties. This article focuses on the earliest varieties of crocuses that bloom in late March and early April.

Shchi from early young cabbage in beef broth is hearty, fragrant and easy to prepare. In this recipe, you will learn how to cook delicious beef broth and cook light cabbage soup with this broth. early cabbage it cooks quickly, so it is placed in the pan at the same time as the rest of the vegetables, unlike autumn cabbage, which takes a little longer to cook. Ready cabbage soup can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Real cabbage soup is tastier than freshly cooked.

Blueberries - a rare promising berry culture in the gardens. Blueberries are a source of biologically active substances and vitamins, have antiscorbutic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, tonic properties. Berries contain vitamins C, E, A, flavonoids, anthocyanins, trace elements - zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, as well as plant hormones - phytoestrogens. The taste of blueberries resembles a mixture of grapes and blueberries.

Looking at the variety of varieties of tomatoes, it is difficult not to get confused - the choice is very wide today. Even experienced gardeners he is annoying sometimes! However, it is not so difficult to understand the basics of selecting varieties “for yourself”. The main thing is to understand the peculiarities of culture and start experimenting. One of the easiest tomato groups to grow are varieties and hybrids with limited growth. They have always been appreciated by those gardeners who do not have much time and energy to care for the beds.

Once very popular under the name of room nettle, and then forgotten by everyone, coleuses today are one of the brightest garden and indoor plants. They are not in vain considered stars of the first magnitude for those who are looking primarily for non-standard colors. Easy to grow, but not so undemanding as to suit everyone, coleus require constant supervision. But if you take care of them, bushes of velvety unique leaves will easily outshine any competitor.

Salmon backbone baked in Provence herbs is a "supplier" of delicious pieces of fish pulp for light salad with fresh wild garlic leaves. The mushrooms are lightly fried olive oil and then drizzle with apple cider vinegar. Such mushrooms are tastier than ordinary pickled ones, and they are better suited for baked fish. Ramson and fresh dill coexist perfectly in one salad, emphasizing the flavor of each other. Garlic sharpness of wild garlic will saturate both salmon flesh and mushroom pieces.

Conifer tree or a shrub on the site is always great, and a lot of conifers is even better. Emerald needles of various shades decorate the garden at any time of the year, and phytoncides and essential oils, secreted by plants, not only flavor, but also make the air cleaner. Generally, most zoned adults coniferous plants, are considered very unpretentious trees and shrubs. But young seedlings are much more capricious and require competent care and attention.

Sakura is most often associated with Japan and its culture. Picnics in the shade flowering trees have long been an integral attribute of the meeting of spring in the Country rising sun. Financial and academic year here begins on April 1, when the magnificent sakura blossoms. Therefore, many significant moments in the life of the Japanese pass under the sign of their flowering. But sakura also grows well in cooler regions - certain types can be successfully grown even in Siberia.

It is very interesting for me to analyze how people's tastes and preferences for certain foods have changed over the centuries. What was once considered tasty and traded lost its value over time and, conversely, new fruit crops conquered their markets. Quince has been cultivated for more than 4 thousand years! And even in the 1st century BC. e. about 6 varieties of quince were known and even then the methods of its reproduction and cultivation were described.

Make your family happy and make themed Easter egg-shaped cottage cheese cookies! Your children will be happy to take part in the process - they will sift the flour, combine all the necessary ingredients, knead the dough and cut out intricate figures. Then they will watch with admiration as the pieces of dough turn into real ones. Easter eggs, and then with the same enthusiasm they will eat them with milk or tea. How to make such original cookies for Easter, read in our step by step recipe!

There are not so many decorative and deciduous favorites among tuberous crops. And the caladium is a true star among the variegated inhabitants of the interiors. Not everyone can decide to start a Caladium. This plant is demanding, and first of all - to care. But still, the rumors about the unusual capriciousness of the Caladium never justify. Attention and care allow you to avoid any difficulties when growing caladiums. And a plant can almost always forgive small mistakes.

We have prepared a hearty, incredibly appetizing and simply elementary dish for you today. This gravy is one hundred percent universal, as it will suit every side dish: vegetables, pasta, and anything. Gravy with chicken and mushrooms will save you in moments when there is no time or you don’t want to think too much about what to cook. Grab your favorite side dish (you can make this ahead of time to keep it hot), add gravy and dinner is ready! A real lifesaver.

Lily legends - many stories, myths and legends have been composed about these beautiful flowers. Since ancient times, people have worshiped the lily as one of the most beautiful creatures on earth. Even the wish for well-being sounded like this: "May your path be strewn with roses and lilies." symbol of hope in Ancient Greece, peace and purity in Rus', and in France these flowers meant mercy, compassion and justice.

Although lilies come in different shades, it is white flowers that are given a special symbolic meaning. White lily - symbolizes innocence and since ancient times personifies purity and purity. It is no coincidence that lilies are the flowers of brides. And the very name of the flower in translation from ancient Greek means "white-white".

The Greeks attribute to her a divine origin. They believed that the white lily, a symbol of innocence and purity, grew out of the milk of the mother of the gods - Hera (Juno), who found the baby of the Theban queen Hercules hidden from her jealous gaze and, knowing the divine origin of the baby, wanted to give him milk. But the boy, sensing his enemy in her, bit and pushed her away, and the milk spilled across the sky, forming the Milky Way. A few drops fell to the ground and turned into lilies.

But much earlier than the Greeks, the lily was known to the ancient Persians, whose capital was even called Susa, which means "city of lilies." The lily played a significant role among the Romans, especially in their flower festivals dedicated to the goddess of spring - Flora. Among the Spaniards and Italians, as well as in other Catholic lands, the lily is considered a flower. of the Blessed Virgin, and the image of the Mother of God is surrounded by a garland of these flowers. Wearing wreaths of lilies, girls in these countries go to Holy Communion for the first time.

But nowhere did the lily have such historical significance, as in France, where the names of the founder of the French monarchy Clovis, kings Louis VII, Philip III, Francis I are associated with it ... Ancient legends tell of the appearance of a lily on the banner of the French kings, as an emblem of royal power. Fleur-de-lis (fr. fleur de lys or fleur de lis, literally "lily flower", or lily, or royal lily) is an armorial figure, the fourth most popular among natural heraldic symbols after the cross, eagle and lion. France was called the kingdom of lilies, and the French king was called the king of lilies.

According to legend, King Clovis defeated the enemies of Christianity with her help. Clovis took a lily as his emblem after the water lilies in the Rhine told him safe place where you can ford the river, thanks to which he won the battle. Louis VII chose the lily as his emblem. Three lilies flaunted on the banners of Saint Louis IX during crusades and denoted the three virtues: mercy, compassion and justice.

The French king Charles VII, wanting to honor the memory of Jeanne d "Arc, finds nothing more lofty and noble than to raise her relatives to noble dignity under the name Liliev and give them a coat of arms, which is a sword on blue field with two lilies on the sides and a wreath of these flowers at the top. Under Louis XII, the lily becomes the main decoration of all the gardens of France and is called the flower of Louis.

Lily generally enjoyed great love in France. From time immemorial, this flower was considered an expression of the highest degree of benevolence and respect, and therefore it was customary in aristocratic families for the groom to send his bride every morning, right up to the wedding itself, a bouquet of fresh flowers, among which there must have been several white lilies. It is interesting that the white lily in the Middle Ages, which served as a reminder of eternity, became a symbol of promiscuity in the Renaissance, the brand on the shoulder of the representatives of the most ancient profession resembled a lily.

In ancient Germanic mythology, the god of thunder Thor was always depicted holding lightning in right hand, and a scepter crowned with a lily in the left. She also adorned the brow of the ancient inhabitants of Pomerania during the festivities in honor of the goddess of spring, and her fragrant aureole served in the German fairy-tale world as a magic wand for Oberon and the home of small fairy-tale creatures - elves.

According to these legends, each lily had its own elf, who was born with her and died with her. Corollas of these flowers served as these tiny creatures, bells, and shaking them, they called their pious brethren to prayer. Prayer meetings usually took place in the late evening hour, when everything in the gardens calmed down and plunged into a deep sleep. Then one of the elves ran to the flexible stem of the lily and began to shake it. Lily bells rang and woke up sweetly sleeping elves with their silvery ringing. The tiny creatures woke up, crawled out of their soft beds, and silently and solemnly went to the lily corollas, which served them at the same time as chapels. Here they bowed their knees, folded their hands piously and thanked the Creator in fervent prayer for the blessings sent to them. Having prayed, they just as silently hurried back to their flower cradles and soon fell asleep again in a deep, carefree sleep...

In Germany, many legends about the afterlife are associated with the lily. It serves as a testament of devotion to the Germans. And among the ancient Jews, the lily flower enjoyed great love and purity. According to Jewish legends, this flower grew during the temptation of Eve by the devil and could be defiled by it, but no dirty hand dared to touch it. Therefore, the Jews decorated them with sacred altars, the capitals of the columns of Solomon's temple.

During the construction of the temple of Solomon, the great Tyrian architect gave graceful shape lilies to wonderful capitals of huge columns, and also decorated its walls and ceiling with images of lilies, sharing the opinion with the Jews that this flower with its beauty will enhance the prayerful mood among those praying in the temple.

They say about the red lily that it changed color on the night before the suffering of Christ on the cross. When the Savior walked through the Garden of Gethsemane, all the flowers bowed their heads before him as a sign of compassion and sadness, except for the lily, which wanted him to enjoy its beauty. But when the pained look fell on her, the blush of shame for her pride in comparison with his humility spilled over her petals and remained forever.

Lily is also found among the Egyptians, in whom her image now and then comes across in hieroglyphs and denotes either the short duration of life, or freedom and hope. In addition, white lilies, apparently, adorned the bodies of dead young Egyptian girls. A similar lily was found on the breast of the mummy of a young Egyptian woman, now stored in the Louvre Museum in Paris. From the same flower, the Egyptians prepared the famous fragrant oil in ancient times - suzinon, which is described in detail by Hippocrates in his treatise On the Nature of Woman.

Neither tears nor lamentations could help here. Jacques had to go to war in foreign distant lands, and leave his bride Lily in France. In parting, Jacques took out his heart from his chest and handed it to Lilia with the words:

A warrior must be heartless, a heart can only get in my way. Keep it until I return.

Lily hid Jacques' heart in a silver box and waited for the return of her beloved.

How slowly time passes for one who waits. The day dragged on like a year, and the year seemed like an eternity. Whatever Lily did, wherever she went, her gaze was always turned in the direction in which Jacques had gone. So she lost count of the days, and she did not count the years. And how indignant she was when her father once spoke to her:

My daughter, ten years have already passed since your fiancé went to war; will he come back at all? Time to think about another husband.

Father, how can you say that! - she exclaimed. - Jacques left me his heart, and as long as I have it, I will not forget Jacques.

The father shook his head, sighing in sympathy. He will not live to see the day when he will be replaced in hard work, do not give him grandchildren.

Another ten years passed, the war ended, the soldiers began to return home - some bouncing on crutches, some with an empty sleeve. Lily was waiting for Jacques, asking the cripples about him: not a word, not a breath.

He must have fallen in love with another and stayed in a foreign land, - Lilia's sister once dropped, but Lilia did not believe this.

How can he love another if I have his heart? You can't love without a heart!

The war was over, but the heartless Jacques, who had been killing and robbing all these years, now did not want to live differently. He became the leader of a band of robbers who plundered in foreign lands. Jacques took gold from travelers on the roads and squandered it in taverns.

When one of the bandits, old Pierre, fell ill, Jacques sent him away. Deciding to take revenge on the ringleader, Pierre went to his native village to tell Jacques' relatives and acquaintances how vile he took up the craft.

Pierre walked for a long time, about ten years, until he came to France and found the village of Jacques. And the first person he met was a gray-haired woman with a fixed, expectant look.

Do you know Jacques? asked Pierre.

Oh god, what are you asking me?! the woman exclaimed. - Jacques, my beloved, my beloved, how can I not know him? Tell me what's wrong with him, where is he!

Old Pierre saw the woman's eyes glow with hope, and he understood: she loves her Jacques as passionately as in her youth. And he could not tell her the terrible truth.

So you are Jacques' fiancee! exclaimed Pierre.

Yes, I am Lilia, we are engaged to him, - the old woman confirmed.

Hey, hey, I have bad news for you. Pierre lowered his eyes. - Jacques fell in battle like a hero. And how he loved you! Dying, he repeated everything your name- Lily.

“My Jacques is dead and buried,” Lilia thought, “but how can he lie in the ground without a heart. I must find his grave, return Jacques to his kind, loving heart."

Taking the silver box, Lily set off on a difficult journey, to foreign distant lands. She had already lost count of days and years, but she kept asking people about the road.

At a bend in the road, bearded robbers attacked Lilia and took away her silver box with her treasure. She begged, cried, told them about her unhappy love and endless loyalty to Jacques, but this did not touch the villains. They took the box to their leader and, laughing, told that some old woman who had gone out of her mind was looking for the groom's grave in order to give him the heart, which he supposedly left her as a pledge, leaving for the war.

Vaguely guessing about something, the leader of the robbers opened the box and saw his own heart, which was deprived of all these long years. And strangely - the heart turned to its former owner in a human voice:

Be a man and don't show Lily the way you are. Let her think that you are dead, and keep a bright memory of you.

Jacques closed the box, ordering the robbers to return it to the old woman and show her the green hill on which he, Jacques, is allegedly buried. But the angry robbers along the way decided that their leader had become silly in his old age, and agreed to keep the silver box for themselves. But they showed the grave to Lilia - weren't there enough mounds scattered around by the wind.

Lilies are mysterious, refined flowers crowned with a fragrant aroma. They are the oldest on earth. Homeland are Japan and Asia. The image of lilies was found on Cretan frescoes, which were painted about 3500 years ago. This delicate flower often found in Egyptian hieroglyphs and is either a symbol of purity and innocence, or a symbol of hope and freedom. In every country he was loved and loved to this day in his own way.

flower history

Among the Romans, she was a flower of hope, she was depicted on coins.

In ancient German mythology, the thunder god Thor held a lightning bolt in his right hand, and a scepter topped with a lily in his left. Also in Germanic mythology, it is believed that an elf lives in each lily flower, who is born with the color and dies with it.

In Germany, the lily was widely cultivated in monastery gardens; it still serves the Germans as a tomb rose.

Spaniards, Italians and most Catholics in general consider this plant to be the flower of the Blessed Virgin Mary. When girls go to Holy Communion for the first time, lilies are woven into wreaths. Bouquets of lilies are carried to the church on June 24 on Ivanov's day for consecration, then their houses arrive crosswise to front door, believing that the house is now under the protection of John the Baptist.

France has since ancient times been considered the kingdom of lilies, and the king - the king of lilies. The French loved this flower at all times.

In this country, the lily was a symbol of royalty in the shadow of the church. In the 12th century, Louis VII made the lily his emblem - three golden lilies flaunted on his white banner. This flower was also on the coat of arms of Louis IX, and Louis XIV issued into circulation coins, which were called gold and silver lilies.

Lilies grow in the Caucasus, which have the ability to blush or turn yellow in the rain. Local girls use them for divination, they open a bud after rain, if the color is red, then the beloved loves her, if yellow, the beloved is wrong.

In Ukraine, the lily is the flower of innocence. It has always been on the bride's embroidered wedding towels.

The rarest is the royal lily, its homeland is Southwest China, it was brought to England in the 20th century and since then it has begun its triumphant march through the parks and gardens of many countries.

This flower is one of the most beautiful corm plants. Lilies not only deliver aesthetic pleasure, but also have healing and nourishing properties. They decorate the garden, they are used to create beautiful groups and flower beds, they are planted around shrubs. Lilies can be used for forcing in pots, for cutting. Cut lilies stay in water for two weeks and bloom to the last flower.

Medicinal properties

IN traditional medicine The lily has been used since ancient times. For medicinal purposes, flowers, leaves and bulbs are used. Because chemical composition little studied in folk medicine, white and tiger are used.

They help with respiratory disease, hypertension, dropsy. This plant has diuretic, analgesic and expectorant properties.

Raw materials are harvested during the flowering period, dried under awnings or in well-ventilated areas.

A decoction (for external use) treats skin diseases, boils. Decoction: 20g lily bulb, 1 glass of milk.

Flowers help to remove freckles well (masks from a decoction of flowers with honey and mustard powder in a ratio of 1: 1: 1).

Healing properties has a tincture of white lily. To prepare it, you need to take a jar, preferably made of dark glass with a tight-fitting lid, fill it with white lily flowers, pour alcohol or vodka so that the flowers are covered with liquid. Put in a dark place for 1.5 months.

The tincture is excellent for insect bites, quickly heals wounds, cuts, abscesses, boils. Tincture good remedy for back pain, sciatica, muscle pain, sprains, sprains.

If the tincture is diluted with boiled water, you get an excellent face lotion that will relieve the skin of acne, slightly whiten it, relieve irritation, give it freshness, smoothness, discolor freckles and age spots.

The oil tincture of the flowers also has medicinal properties. To prepare it, you need to take 4 tablespoons of crushed lily flowers and 4 tablespoons. crushed leaves, pour 300 g of deodorized vegetable oil, insist 21 days in the sun, then another month in the refrigerator, strain after this period. Oil tincture can be stored for several years at low temperatures. It has antibacterial properties, it is used for bronchitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia: inside, 1st. l. 3 times a day half an hour before meals.

The tincture is externally used to treat burns, sciatica, muscle pain, hemorrhoids.

There are many varieties of lilies: some form an abundant number of flowers, others reach the height of human growth, others bloom for a very long time (up to 4 weeks).

But most varieties are united by a bright beautiful color of flowers, a unique aroma and a beautiful exotic shape.

There are about 100 types of lilies. In the conditions of the non-chernozem zone, the most common are: white, brindle, Bourbon, saffron, Regal, Martagon.

cultivation

Lilies like to grow in well-lit areas protected from strong wind, cultivation is allowed in areas that are slightly shaded at noon.

Lilies love light, permeable loamy or sandy soil. When planting, it is desirable to introduce humus or well-decomposed manure.

Lilies do not like to grow on waterlogged, heavy soils that are not sufficiently cultivated; they prefer slightly alkaline, neutral soils. On slightly acidic, lime, wood ash should be added (depending on acidity).

Lilies should not be grown near birches, poplars, elms - they quickly take moisture and nutrients from the soil, leaving nothing for the flowers.

Planting lilies in open ground at the end of August - September. When planting in spring or summer, the bulbs may die, development is retarded.

When planted in autumn, the bulbs take root well before the onset of frost.

When planting, the roots are not cut off, because bulbs with cut roots do not bloom well on next year. It is desirable to process the bulbs in a 0.2% solution of Fundazol.

The depth of planting depends on the size of the bulbs, the mechanical composition of the soil. Plant deeper on light soils, shallower on heavy soils.

On fertile loamy soil, large bulbs are planted to a depth of 20 cm, small ones 10-15 cm.

Bulbs are planted in rows at a distance of 35-40cm, and 25-30cm between plants in a row.

Care

Lily care consists in the systematic loosening of the soil (5-6 loosening per summer) and the removal of weeds.

During spring and summer plantings watering is required, but not in autumn.

In dry weather, moderate watering is carried out - rarely, but plentifully - per 1 sq. m. one bucket. Plants do not like waterlogging. Basically they need moderate humidity. After flowering, when roots begin to grow and nutrients accumulate, plants need normal soil moisture.

As soon as the sprouts appear from the soil, the soil around the plant is watered. Bordeaux mixture: take 1st.l. drinking soda, 1 tbsp. ammonia, 1 tbsp. l. copper sulphate, previously dissolved in 1 liter. warm water, everyone pours 9 liters of water ( blue vitriol added last).

Before the flowers appear, nitrogen fertilizers are applied, in June - potash and phosphorus fertilizers at the rate of 20 g per one bucket of water. Fermented but not fresh mullein is well suited for top dressing in a ratio of 1:10.n

The first year after planting, the plant does not yet reach its normal height and does not bloom. In order for the bulb to gain strength, the buds are removed partially or completely. For 2-3 years, lilies bloom well and profusely, then by 4-5 years the flowering weakens - this means that the plants need to be transplanted to a new place.

For the winter they cover with leaves, peat, humus with a layer up to 10 cm.

Lily history

The history of lilies originates in Persia, whose capital was called the city of lilies.

When you look at the harmony and sophistication of these flowers, you involuntarily admire them. The grace of forms, the delightful harmony of stems, leaves and flowers brought lilies worldwide fame and popularity. The name of the flower comes from the ancient Greek word "leirion" - "white", or from the ancient Celtic "lilium" ("pure white").

Lily is a symbol of purity and virtue. This is one of the most ancient plants. Its images are found both in ancient frescoes and in ancient manuscripts, and usually it is a snow-white lily, since this plant grew in natural flora along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea, it is not surprising that the most ancient images dating back to 2000 BC were discovered there. , for example, on the frescoes in the palace of King Minos on the island of Crete.

Such Special attention to the lily ancient times due to the fact that its flowers and bulbs were used for medicinal purposes. And besides, lily oil was obtained from them, which gave a pleasant smell to linen and water for ablutions. The Crusaders brought Western Europe lily bulbs in place with others bulbous plants, but at first lilies were grown as medicinal plants in the monastery gardens.

Since time immemorial, many peoples have associated white lilies with purity, innocence and purity. And the ancient Egyptians believed that these flowers express the short life, freedom and hope.

I must say that, probably, not a single earthly flower is surrounded by so many legends and myths as this one.

For example, the ancient Greeks attributed divine origin to lilies. According to the legend, white lilies arose from the drops of milk of Hera, the wife of the lord of the gods Zeus. The Theban queen Alcmene secretly gave birth to the boy Hercules from Zeus, but, fearing the punishment of Zeus's wife, Hera, she hid the newborn in the bushes. However, Hera accidentally discovered the baby and decided to breastfeed him. But little Hercules sensed an enemy in Hera and rudely pushed the goddess away. Milk splashed into the sky, which formed Milky Way, and those few drops that fell to the ground sprouted and turned into snow-white lilies.

Lily wrote about ancient Greek philosophers and the poets Dioscorides, Pliny the Elder, Homer.

However, much earlier than the Greeks, the lily was known to the ancient Persians, whose capital was called Susa, that is, the "City of Lilies". In his coat of arms, as a symbol of immaculate purity, several lilies flaunted. This flower also enjoyed the glory of purity among the ancient Jews. According to their legends, the lily grew in the Garden of Eden during the temptation of Eve by the devil, but in the midst of the temptation beautiful flower remained as pure as he was, and no evil dared to touch him.

The ancient Jews have this wonderful flower also enjoyed great love and the glory of purity. According to Jewish legends, he grew up in paradise just at the time of the temptation of Eve by the devil and could be defiled by him; but even in the midst of temptation he remained as pure as he was, and no dirty hand dared to touch him. As a result of this, the Jews decorated with them not only their sacred altars, but often the foreheads of their crowned bearers, such as, for example, King Solomon.

The great architect of Tyre, who built the temple of Solomon, gave the elegant shape of a lily to the capitals of the temple and decorated the walls and ceiling with images of a lily, sharing with the Jews the opinion that this flower would aggravate the prayer mood. And Moses ordered the seven candlesticks to be decorated with images of a lily. There is also a legend that under the yellow lily, which usually grows among the reeds, the cradle of Moses stopped.
The lily is also found among the Egyptians. Her image in hieroglyphs denotes either the short duration of life, or freedom and hope. The fragrant oil, famous in ancient times, "suzinon", was prepared from this flower.

The lily also played an important role among the Romans at the festival of Flora. During this holiday, women competed in running and wrestling, and the winners were showered with a rain of flowers. They cleaned with lilies the statue of the goddess Flora, and the entire amphitheater, the audience, the arena, the boxes ...
Among the Romans, the ilija was considered a symbol of hope, and its image was placed by the Romans even on coins, as the people expected pleasant benefits from the reigning king.
The bride and groom, as a sign of that full abundance and pure life that they wish, were crowned with wreaths of lilies and wheat ears.

In addition, the lily was also found in ancient Germanic mythology: the god of thunder - Thor was always depicted holding a lightning bolt in his right hand, and a scepter crowned with a lily in his left. Her fragrant aureole was also considered in Germanic mythology to be the magic wand of Oberon and the dwelling of the elves. Each lily has its own elf, who is born and dies with it. The corollas of these flowers serve as bells for the elves, by ringing which they gather their fellows for prayer.

But, perhaps, nowhere did the lily have such historical significance as in France. They say that the founder of the French monarchy, Clovis, while still a pagan, saw that he was losing to the Allemanni in the battle of Tolback, and offered up a prayer for victory to the Christian God. And an angel appeared to him with a branch of lilies, saying that from now on he would make the lily his weapon and bequeath it to his descendants. Clovis was granted victory in this battle, and he, with all his Franks, their wives and children, was baptized. Since then, the lily in France has been a symbol of royal power in the shadow of the church.

And although the symbol of royal power has always been a white lily, some argue that the lily given by the angel to Clovis was not white, but fiery red. There is also a beautiful legend about this red lily. It is said that she turned red on the night before the Savior's suffering on the Cross. The legend says that when the Savior, tormented by heavy longing, passed through the Garden of Gethsemane, all the flowers bowed their heads before him. One lily did not bow its head, wishing that He would thoroughly enjoy its scent and beauty. And the Savior really stopped for a minute - perhaps even to admire the beauty of this flower - but when His suffering gaze fell on her, the lily, comparing her pride with His humility, became ashamed, and the blush of shame spread over all her petals, remaining with her. forever…
That is why, as the legend explains, red lilies never stand with their heads up and always close their petals at night.

In the XII century, Louis VII also chose the lily as his emblem, with him for the first time a white banner with three golden lilies appeared, which later became not only the emblem of royal power, but also devotion to the papal throne.
The lily is also found in the coat of arms of Saint Louis IX, but only together with the daisy, which he added in memory of his beloved wife Margarita.
The shape of the lily was also given to the end of the scepter, and France itself was called the kingdom of lilies, and the French king - the king of lilies.
The expression "etre assis sur des lys", that is, "to sit on lilies", meant to have a high position, since not only all the walls of the court, but also all the seats of the chairs were decorated with lily flowers.

The lily was generally considered a very honorary sign on the coats of arms and was even found on coins. Louis XIV put into circulation coins that even bore the names of gold and silver lilies. On one side of such a coin there was an image of a king or a cross decorated with lilies and topped at both ends with crowns, and on the other - the coat of arms of France, supported by two angels. Lily generally enjoyed great love in France. In aristocratic families, it was customary for the groom to send the bride every morning a bouquet of fresh flowers, where there must have been at least a few white lilies, until the wedding.

The lily is respected and loved by the Spaniards and Italians. Among these peoples, it is considered mainly the flower of the Blessed Virgin. In wreaths of lilies, young girls go for the first time to Holy Communion. In the Pyrenees there is a custom on June 24, on Midsummer Day, to bring huge bouquets of lilies to the church for consecration. Then these lilies are nailed crosswise over the door of each house, which from that moment is considered to be under the protection of John the Baptist. These bouquets remain until the next Midsummer Day.

Germany also took a great interest in the lily. The most beautiful lilies were bred here in the monastery gardens, and their incredible beauty gave rise to many stories related to the life of the monks.

In medieval Germany, there were many legends about the lily as a flower of the afterlife and atonement for sins. According to the legends of other nations, the lily appears on the graves of innocently condemned people.

This flower serves the Germans, like a tomb rose, as evidence of either devotion or the posthumous revenge of the deceased. By popular belief, she is never planted on graves, and she herself grows up on the grave of a suicide or a person who died a violent or generally terrible death. If it grows on the grave of the murdered, it serves as a harbinger of revenge, and on the grave of a sinner - a sign of atonement for sins. On the petals of lilies that have grown on the grave of sinners, according to legend, some words written in gold always appear.

In Rus', a white lily was considered a symbol of purity and purity, so they were often given to brides. The lily was also honored in Rus' as a symbol of peace.
Some Caucasian lilies may turn yellow or blush under the influence of rain, and therefore Caucasian girls use them for divination. Having chosen a lily bud, after the rain they open it, and if it is yellow inside, then their beloved is unfaithful to them, and if it is red, then he still loves.

How not to remember the Siberian lily - saranka. If the white lily is strict, cold, indifferent in appearance, then the locust is its complete opposite. The petals of her flowers are exactly turned inside out. It seems that the locust is about ready to start dancing.

But the rarest and most valuable lily is the royal lily, which is native to a narrow valley among the mountains of southwestern China. The bulbs of this lily were brought to England at the beginning of the 20th century, from where it began its triumphal procession through the gardens and parks of the world.