Leaves tattoo. Maple leaf tattoo
Trees today are not only a source of oxygen and human joy, part of the landscape, but also history and mythology. You will find many stories and legends about almost every tree. Whether to believe them or not, everyone decides for themselves. Unfortunately, due to insufficient time, we cannot afford to remember a lot of useful and interesting information. Today we will talk about the center of world mythology - the maple tree, and the myths associated with it.
Maple (sycamore) comes from the Latin word ‘acer’ - sharp. At first glance, it is already difficult to find the Latin root in the word in this center of world mythology - maple.
Maple is a tree into which, according to the beliefs of the ancient Slavs, every person can be turned after death. For this reason, maple wood is not used for firewood, for bread in the oven, a coffin is not made from it, etc. It was also believed that while the owner was alive, the maple tree in front of his house would be stately and tall. A man dies - and with him a maple tree.
The transformation of a person into a maple tree is one of the popular motifs of the legends of the ancient Slavs: a mother cursed her worthless son (daughter), and wandering musicians walking through the forest made a violin from maple, which, in the voice of her son (daughter), tells about the irredeemable guilt of the evil mother. Or the mother often wailed over her dead son, saying: “Ay, my son, you are my little lamb.”
According to Serbian beliefs, if an innocently convicted person hugs a dry maple tree, the maple tree will turn green; if an unhappy or offended person touches it, the maple will dry out.
Maple is also used in Slavic holidays - on Trinity Sunday, houses were decorated with maple branches. They were previously illuminated in the church. This ritual still exists today. It is especially common in villages, because on the eve of the holiday you can go into the forest and pick maple branches.
When carefully examining maple leaves, the five-pointed leaves of most maple species resemble the five fingers of a human hand; In addition, the five ends of the maple leaf symbolize the five senses. Perhaps this is why the myths associated with maple are so closely connected with human life.
In the modern world, maple signifies restraint and also symbolizes the arrival of autumn. In China and Japan, the maple leaf is a symbol of lovers. In China, the meaning of maple is that the name of the tree (feng) sounds the same as the expression “to confer a high rank.” If the drawing shows a monkey with a tied bag sitting on a maple tree, then the drawing is called “feng-hui”, which translated means “may the recipient of this drawing receive the rank of official.”
For women, maple symbolizes a man, young, strong and loving. In Ukraine, maple and linden were represented as a married couple, and the falling of the leaves of this tree meant discord and separation in the family.
Modern people have ceased to believe in stories of this kind, but despite this, it should be noted that trees played a special role in the life of ancient peoples. For every occasion in life, they had a certain tree that helped solve a vital problem, make a cure for diseases, and protect the home from evil spirits.
It’s no secret that in many villages there are still women who cure diseases and help others in their personal lives with the help of the power of plants. We are sure that maple will also have a place there.
In this article we will talk about the reasons for the popularity of such a symbol as the maple leaf. It’s not for nothing that our ancestors endowed it with mystical properties.
Did you know that maple was often used by our ancestors in rituals for the Trinity Day, Corpus Christi Day and other revered days? Houses and gates were decorated with leaves, and they were used as a talisman. What is so special about maple leaves, why have they been used as symbols for a long time?
Why is the maple leaf a symbol of Canada?
Many people wonder why the maple tree is considered a symbol of Canada, since it grows not only in this country. This opinion is only partly true - on this emblem it is the sugar maple that appears. It grows only in North America, being source of world famous maple syrup and sugar.
Maple syrup is a favorite delicacy around the world.
It is also important that it was in Canada that those who came there Europeans saw maple for the first time in their lives. A tree about 40 meters high with a lush crown, from which bright red leaves beautifully fall, could not help but be remembered.
Then the Europeans realized that they could not only admire a tree, but also make a profit with it. The experience of local Indians has shown that excellent syrup can be made from maple sap extracted in early spring. Over time with Europe has taken pride of place in the recipe of Canadian cuisine.
In the 19th century, the enterprising population, seeing such success of the product among their fellow citizens, decided export his. To this day, the production of maple syrup is considered beneficial component of Canadian foreign policy. And about 20 festivals dedicated to this delicacy are organized annually!
There is a legend, according to which the maple leaf became a symbol of Canada thanks to the visit of Prince Albert Edward of Wales. The local residents were unusually inspired and decided to welcome the guest of honor with their symbols. As a result, Scottish migrants brought branches of thistles, and English migrants brought roses. And only the children of migrants who were already born in Canada had nothing to take. Then the idea came to take maple leaves.
Maple syrup is rightfully considered the national product of Canada. What does the maple leaf on the Canadian flag and $5 coin mean?
Flag Canada as it is now, appeared in 1965. But the maple leaf existed as an emblem even earlier - since the 19th century on coins and stamps.
As for the flag itself, initially there were as many as three sheets on it. However, later the flag was tested in a wind tunnel, where it became clear that The image of one 11-pointed sheet is least distorted when exposed to air currents.
The 11 peaks of the emblem do not carry any meaning.
IMPORTANT: As for the color red, many people mistakenly think that this color scheme in this case is associated with autumn. In fact, red is the national color in Great Britain. And this is logical, since Canada is formally considered a constitutional monarchy. White is the color of France.
Why exactly the maple leaf? Very simple: as we wrote above, Canadians are proud that such a tree grows here. They also count the maple leaf symbol of the unity of the nation.
The emblem is also immortalized on the coin. Moreover, this coin is considered one of the most popular in the world. The size of such a coin is 1/10 oz., which is equivalent to 5 Canadian dollars. It is released since 1982.
The meaning of the maple leaf on the coin is the same as on the flag - the personification of goodness, peace and pride in one’s country.
Maple Leaf on Canada Coin The meaning of a maple leaf on a piece of jewelry
It is believed that a person who wears jewelry in the shape of a maple leaf will certainly must find kindred spirits among those around him. Maple seems to absorb energy in order to then distribute it to those who are nearby. It was not for nothing that our ancestors considered him symbol of love.
Energy near this tree gentle, soft, helping a person find peace of mind. If you always carry the maple leaf symbol with you, you will soon notice that you have acquired confidence, inner strength, poise.
IMPORTANT: There is an opinion that such a talisman symbol takes on all the negativity to which a person may be exposed. It protects you from emotional outbursts and frees you from heaviness that can settle in your soul.
If you are on the path to something new, then purchasing jewelry with a maple leaf is the first step along this path. After all, the maple leaf will attract good luck to you in business and promote career growth. It is possible that you completely unexpectedly You will understand how best to express yourself.
Our ancestors believed that the five-pointed maple leaf symbolizes five human senses. And if you wear such a leaf on yourself, you can help, as they believed, full disclosure of these feelings. Why not take advantage of the experience of previous generations? After all, it may well be that life will really play out new colors, and the world around us will become be perceived more positively.
A tattoo in the form of a maple leaf is very often found among Canadian military personnel, as it is a symbol of this country, and embodies patriotic qualities and love for the Motherland, and, more recently, kindness and peaceful life. The maple leaf tattoo is not limited to just one meaning. There are many interpretations of the meaning of this drawing. And different peoples assign different meanings to it.
It was believed that the maple tree was characterized by sensitivity to the inner world of a person, empathy and sharing his sadness with him. If a person is happy, then it will share it with its lush green crown. The maple leaf tattoo design looks good in color.
Maple is a mighty tree, appearing in its indestructible beauty, not afraid of either wind or cold. Therefore, maple leaves are a sign of powerful willpower, invincibility of spirit and stamina of the body. Men who have a maple leaf tattoo seem to transfer to themselves all the properties inherent in this tree.
In ancient times, the Celts depicted a maple leaf in a tattoo, giving it the meaning of struggling with difficulties and inspiration for carrying out victorious battles.
The Poles made such a drawing when a loved one passed away. In this case, the appearance of a maple leaf on the body personified the spiritual anguish, sadness and suffering of the person who lost it.
Young people in Asia wore the image of a maple leaf on their body as a sign that they were in love. In modern times, couples of lovers paint it on their hands, thereby affirming their eternal love and fidelity to each other.
If the leaves in the tattoo are depicted falling, this is a premonition of parting and sadness.
The meaning of the maple leaf tattoo among the Slavs of past years was interpreted as a repetition in this drawing of the person who wore it. As his life changes over the years, so will the pattern on his body.
A woman who has a maple leaf tattoo depicted it in honor of a man she cares about. The figured carved leaf conveys his youth, beauty and rebellion.
In general, this tattoo is associated with something sad, meaning that earthly passions are sinful and should be tamed.
In an artistic sense, the maple leaf is a beautiful and striking design, suitable for both men and women. It can be placed on any desired part of the body. The main thing is to determine for yourself the meaning that your tattoo will carry to others. And remember: no matter what the maple leaf tattoo design is, the main thing is that it is unique!
An unusually beautiful tree due to the wide variety of shapes and autumn color of the foliage - from orange to crimson red and purple. Up to 150 representatives of the laminated family are known. Of these, the most common is the Norway maple (Acer platanoides), which grows in Europe, the Caucasus and the Balkans, and the famous sugar maple (Acer saccharut), which has become the national symbol of Canada.
In the mythological beliefs of the Western and Eastern Slavs, a person was transformed into a maple (sycamore) by a spell. This belief indicates the persistence of totemic features in ideas about maple. For this reason, a human maple tree is not used for firewood, a coffin is not made from it (“it is a sin for a living person to rot in the ground”), etc. In a funeral lament, they often address the deceased, calling him “my sycamore,” “my son.” , you’re my little bird.”
Maple branches were used by the Slavs in calendar rituals. On Trinity, Corpus Christi Day and other holidays, houses and gates were decorated with maple branches. In Belarus, the Saturday before Trinity was called “maple”. It seemed that the souls of the dead were hiding in the branches of the maple. According to Serbian beliefs, a maple tree will turn green if an innocently convicted person hugs its trunk, but if an unhappy or offended person touches a green maple tree in the spring, the tree will dry up.
In ancient times in England there was a strong belief that a baby dragged through its branches would have a long and happy life. The belief persisted until the 19th century, when a group of protesting mothers were recorded speaking about the impending felling of one of the maples in West Grinstead Park. The women urgently asked not to touch the tree, as this could shorten the lives of children born in the village. Two or three settlements of natives of the village considered this tree to be the “giver of longevity.”
Maple trees of various species have symbolic meanings in Canada and China. Since the 19th century The sugar maple leaf (acer saccharut) has become the national symbol of Canada. Sugar maple, also known as the source of the famous maple syrup, is common in the southern regions of what are now the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. It is not found in the rest of the country, with the exception of the small Prince Edward Island. Nevertheless, this tree has become a national symbol of the entire country, probably not least due to the red color of the leaves. In autumn, this region seems to be on fire - this impression is created by the red, purple and crimson colors in which the crown of these trees is painted. Three red maple leaves are depicted at the base of the shield of the national coat of arms of Canada, one leaf is held by a lion as a decoration of the helmet. The flag also features one red leaf; three maple leaves each appear in the coats of arms of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
In China, the name of maple - feng - sounds the same as the concept of “to confer a high rank.” The image of a monkey with a tied package on a maple tree is called "feng-hui", which loosely translated means: may the recipient of this design be given the rank of a prominent official.
In Japan, the maple tree has become a truly iconic tree due to its vibrant autumn foliage. During this period of time, hundreds of thousands of Japanese flock to parks and gardens to see the bright red foliage of the small momiji maple. Red leaves already falling onto the snow create a magical picture of late autumn.
Used materials:
- Christina Hole, Encyclopedia of Accepts and Superstitions;
- Encyclopedia of Superstitions;
- Hans Biedermann, Encyclopedia of Symbols.
Maple waves its green palm to me,
He invites you to go for a walk.
He throws notes out the window,
How can one read his handwriting?
Trees today are not only a source of oxygen, human joy and part of the landscape, but also history and mythology. You will find many stories and legends about almost every tree. Whether to believe them or not, everyone decides for themselves. Unfortunately, due to insufficient time, we cannot afford to remember a lot of useful and interesting information. Today we will talk about the center of world mythology – the maple tree, and the myths associated with it.
The transformation of a person into a maple tree is one of the popular motifs of Slavic legends: a mother “cursed” a disobedient son or daughter, and musicians walking through the grove where this tree grew made a violin out of it, which in the voice of the son or daughter tells about the mother’s guilt...
That's why our ancestors never cut down a maple tree for firewood or put maple leaves under bread in the oven...
How I want to write about the green forest,
About old, old, old maple.
He stands there, surprised by something,
It's as if he's in love with someone.
It grows near an old gazebo.
Only the leaves sway in the wind.
The maple bowed its branches to the ground,
He gathers the kids around.
Children play, they just admire the maple trees,
And he rustles the leaves in response to them.
It seems to everyone that the maple stands out.
In fact, there is nothing more unfortunate than the maple.
He is alone among thunderstorms, rains and blizzards.
Even though there is a forest nearby, it is not his destiny to get there.
Maple understands how serious his illness is
And he is forced to remain alone.
There is an undeniable connection between a man and the maple tree growing in front of his house. As long as a person lives, the maple is slender and tall, the leaves on its branches are large and succulent. The old owner dies and the maple dries up. Apparently, ancestors or close people of a person live in such trees, and after death they leave the orphaned place near the house. And with the soul, life leaves the maple tree that sheltered it. After all, without a soul, life slips through your fingers like sand.
A child who is threaded through a maple tree will live a long time.
Back in the 19th century. This belief in Russia was very popular in many rural areas of the country. The threading was done between the branches of the maple tree, and in this way all the children in the village were threaded.
According to Serbian beliefs, if a dry maple tree is hugged by an unjustly convicted person, the maple tree will turn green; If an unhappy or offended person touches a green maple tree in the spring, the tree will dry out.
Maple was considered a donor tree with light magical powers.
This tree, which helps people find peace of mind, brings peace, self-confidence, a tree of inner strength and balance.
On Trinity, Corpus Christi Day and other holidays, houses, outbuildings, gates, etc. were decorated with maple branches. Not decorating a house was a great sin. Ancestors believed that during the holiday, the souls of deceased relatives fly to the living and hide in the branches.
The banks of the Acheron River (Aceruntia - stream of sadness), an underground river through which Elder Charon transported the souls of the departed, were overgrown with maples.
For the Celts, the presence of two trunks in a maple tree in most cases was a symbol of the struggle for one’s self. All over the world, maple is a symbol of autumn. According to modern symbolism, maple means restraint.
In China and Japan, the maple leaf is the emblem of lovers. According to Pennsylvania German traditions, the maple tree symbolizes the beauty of life.
Upon closer examination, the five-pointed leaves of most maple species resemble the outstretched five fingers of a human hand; In addition, the five ends of the maple leaf symbolize the five senses. In the late sixties, the Canadian maple leaf also became a symbol of peace and love, appealing not only to our five physical senses, but also to the higher, spiritual ones.
For women, it symbolizes a young man, slender and strong, kind and loved. In Ukraine, maple and linden were represented as a marriage pair, and the fall of maple leaves promised separation from the family.
Just recently, in a golden outfit,
Linden stood under my window,
And in front of her, slender and branchy -
Maple stood there, blushing.
They were intertwined with thin branches,
Whispered tenderly in the silence of the night,
And young Lipa said,
- Be with me, my beloved!
And the Maple, shaking its branches
He answered her, “I love you forever!”
You, my dear, gave me happiness
And I can't leave you...
The gentle sun warmed them,
The prickly wind tore the leaves off them,
The autumn rains washed them,
And the snow was fluffy - it decorated the branches.
We were together in joy and sorrow -
Nothing can separate them.
Lipa stood - the white bride,
And next to Linden is Maple the Groom.
They felt warm together in the bitter cold,
Their hearts were warmed by love,
And there was no end to the great feeling.
There was no end to love and life.
But the evil Winter decided to separate them,
She didn't like their love
She was angry that they had no power over them -
Snow storms, blizzards and frost.
And Winter flew for help
(I couldn’t cope with them alone),
Because of the frozen White Sea
She called the cruel wind...
The wind crept up at night,
He bent and broke the thin Linden tree,
Maple, hugging with its branches,
He protected Linden-love from him.
But from a gust of insidious Wind,
The linden tree broke - the dream faded.
The wind and Winter laughed contentedly -
-She will never rise again!
The maple bent over his beloved
And a tear ran down from the branches, -
-Black forces separated us,
My dear Lipa!
Time has passed and spring has melted
With a gentle breath of ice and snow,
And scared of the hot sun,
Winter rushed across the sea with the Wind.
The buds swelled and burst open with a bang,
The forests are covered with fresh greenery,
But remembering my beloved,
The maple will never bloom...
The maple is a famous symbol of Canada. Its leaf resembles a five-pointed star - a magical symbol of earthly man (human creator), health and love.
Maple connects kindred souls into a single whole; it, as it were, absorbs the energy potential of humanity in order to then distribute the acquired energy among those who fall within its zone of influence.
The Indians of North America knew about the excellent qualities of maple sap, which is not inferior to birch sap, long before Europeans appeared on the continent. Nowadays, maple sap is collected in Belarus, Transcaucasia, Bashkiria and the Urals.
The production of maple syrup can be considered a traditional folk craft of the inhabitants of New England and the northeastern provinces of Canada. Long before the white man arrived in America, the indigenous inhabitants of these places, the Indians, used the sweet sap of the sugar maple for food.
There are many legends about how the Indians discovered the wonderful nutritional qualities of maple sap.
One of them says that once upon a time, at the end of winter, the leader of one of the Iroquois tribes, having chosen a place for his people to spend the night, stuck a tomahawk into a nearby maple tree. The next morning was sunny and warm. When the leader took his tomahawk out of the tree, maple sap began to drip frequently from the remaining notch into a clay bowl standing at the base of the trunk. The leader's wife did not pour out the juice that had collected in the bowl, but cooked meat in it for her husband for breakfast. The dish prepared in this way turned out to be very aromatic and acquired a pleasant sweetish taste.
In an effort to get a sweeter and more tasty drink from maple sap, the Indians decided to evaporate it. Having no metal vessels that could be placed on an open fire, they threw small stones heated over the fire into pots and bowls filled with sap, hollowed out of wood or made from birch bark. As a result, the water evaporated, and the juice became thicker, more aromatic and sweeter.
Since then, the Indians began to use maple sap for food. This tradition was picked up and developed by new settlers from Europe, who learned to obtain not only thick syrup from maple sap, but also to make candies and crystalline sugar from it.
«
The old maple stands alone
All covered in moss.
On the edge of the ruins,
And it creaks tiredly.
Remembering those years
When the wind is violent
The leaves rustled in full,
It's wild on the branches.
The children were hiding behind him
Behind the mighty trunk.
He wasn't like that then
Old and creaky.
And when the spring thunder
The rain will come quickly,
All the lovers underneath
They kissed tenderly.
The old master came
And pressed against the trunk.
As I spoke to my relatives,
Hiding my tears, squeezing...
But those years have passed
The maple did not reveal its secrets,
Everything stands alone in the darkness
Proud and open...
«
The energy of maple is very soft and caressing. He is able to hug and caress, while all troubles disappear somewhere by themselves.
The maple seems to caress a person with its invisible hands, enveloping it in its biofield to make life calmer and more comfortable. When meeting this tree, there is a quiet joy, similar to the feeling experienced when meeting a good friend.
But this tree really doesn’t like being alone; it needs to be planted in at least a small group of 2-3 trees.
According to an ancient tradition, when a house was built, a couple of maples were planted on its southern side. And since in the old days houses were almost always built with a facade to the south in order to receive more solar heat, trees were planted in front of the entrance to the house, and in the summer their shade provided protection from the sun's rays.
Since a house was usually built when a new family was created, these trees received the names “Groom” and “Bride.” But, probably, in former times these two maples, under whose protection the house was all year round, were called the trees of the god and goddess.
Maple is a melodious tree. “Stretch a ringing string on a dry branch of a wedge tree, sing me your daring song...”- a frequent motif of ancient legends. Sadko's harp was made from maple.
The leaves on the old maple tree turned yellow,
And it’s clear that their turn has come
Fall down and crawl along the ground,
To become earth again in a year.
They were surrounded by crazy leaf fall.
Openwork beauties fell off,
And let them die at the same time,
But their mortal attire was beautiful!
And if you're like a leaf like me
Klenov, then at the end of life,
I wouldn't leave room for reproach
Because I will go to another world,
And I would soar quietly, slowly,
Enjoying the last moment in my life,
When, imbued with this inspiration,
He closed his eyes and stopped breathing.
Anton Kondratyev
In many beliefs, the maple tree represents the army of Light. In many ways similar to ash, but its strength is aggressive and effective. Therefore, maple is used to create barriers to Darkness. A solar disk carved from maple and hung above the door, maple steps at the entrance to the house, door jambs made of this wood - all these are protections from evil forces, often used in ritual buildings dedicated to light, solar deities.
The maple symbolized the ability to magically protect, love and material well-being.
The branches, seeds and leaves of maple were attributed with magical power to protect a person and his space from all evil. To scare away evil forces, maple fruits were buried under the threshold of the house, and a green branch was hung over the bed. The maple leaf was often depicted on Easter eggs.
There is information that the stake used to pierce the vampire’s heart could be not only aspen, but also maple. The maple arrow is believed to kill the undead. A staff made of maple is used in protective magic.
Maple is a tree that helps people of all types find peace of mind, brings peace and self-confidence. This is the tree of inner strength and balance. It is not touchy; takes on all emotional outbursts, frees you from boiling passions. Therefore, maple alleys are often planted near hospitals and mental hospitals.
Using maple wood as a talisman will give you the ability to communicate in a company and be sociable.
Trees played a special role in the life of ancient peoples. For every occasion in life, they had a certain tree that helped solve a vital problem, make a cure for diseases, and protect the home from evil spirits.
It’s no secret that in many villages there are still women who cure diseases and help others in their personal lives with the help of the power of plants. I am sure that maple will also have a place there.
Maples are fantastically beautiful in the fall. As they fall, golden and crimson leaves silently fall to the ground. That's what it is "...the lush decay of nature. Forests dressed in crimson and gold".
I will decorate the windows with fallen maple leaves,
What I dried up in a notebook as a souvenir of the summer.
The wind hastened to cut them off prematurely -
It serves autumn... But it doesn’t need green maple.
The imperious mistress changes the trees' outfits,
Gilded it, dressed it in ocher and red,
Red and crimson added passionately to the palette:
So the handsome trees are ready, just what you need!
The green maple served only the blooming summer,
He did not put on the gilded mask he promised,
Didn't want to change the emerald green paint,
He remained devoted to his favorite summer color.
