Golden Flower of the Greeks - Marigold!

Calendula officinalis; annual to perennial, growing to 27in., the
Marigold is lightly sticky to the touch, leaves paddle shaped, flower
heads up to 7cm., outer ray florets orange and yellow. Native to
Southern Europe.

Once used for colouring butter, fabrics and cosmetics, this brilliant,
yelow flower was also used by monks to make wounds heal faster.

Associated with May, formerly the Marigold was employed on May Day
festivals in England in the formation of garlands for decking the May
Queen, and in Germany too, was similarly employed, its blossoms
garlanded the cow that led the procession!

In some parts of America, Marigolds were styled as "death flowers", in
reference to a tradition that the crimson splashed species first sprang
from the ground stained by the blood of the unfortunate Mexicanswho
fell victims to the love of gold and arrogant cruelty of the early
Spanish settlers.

Emblematic of affection, sympathy and joy in sorrow, the Marigold was
considered from its colour by the Greeks as the "golden flower".

The origin of the Marigold is unknown, though some say the flower first
blossomed at the time of the Feast of the Annunciation, and was
therefore dedicated to the Virgin Mary and named in her honour, and, in
reference to its beautiful colour, became known as "Mary's Gold".

There is an old legend, however, that gives a more poetic origin to the
name, and tells of a maiden who once lived, called Caltha, who became
so in love with the sun that she sat all day long, eyes riveted upon
the heavens, and at length refused to leave even at night, in case she
missed the sun rise. And so she continued to gaze until the sun
absorbed her in his rays and she vanished from mortal eyes. In her
place appeared a flower, coloured like the sun, which had never been
seen before, and at the closing of the day, with the departure of the
sun god, she shut up her petals until touched by his rays in the
morning of each new day. Married to the golden sun, her name was
Marigold.

Thank you for reading this article, if you have any comments, or you'd
like me to write about your favourite flower, please e.mail me,
Marilyn.Cameron@btinternet.com