Pussy willow
Pussy willow is a name given to many of the smaller species of the
. These species include (among many others):- Goat willow or goat sallow (Salix caprea), a small tree native to northern Europe and northwest Asia.
- Grey willow or grey sallow (Salix cinerea), a small tree native to northern Europe.
- American pussy willow (Salix discolor), native to northern North America.
Before the male catkins of these species come into full flower they are covered in fine, greyish fur, leading to a fancied likeness to tiny
Cultural traditions
Asia
The many buds of the pussy willow make it a favourite flower for Lunar New Year. The fluffy white blossoms of the pussy willow resemble silk, and they soon give forth young shoots the colour of green jade. In Chinese tradition, this represents the coming of prosperity.[1] Towards the Lunar New Year period in spring, stalks of the plant may be bought from wet market vendors or supermarkets.[citation needed]
Once unbundled within one's residence, the stalks are frequently decorated with gold and red ornaments—ornaments with colours and textures that signify prosperity and happiness. Felt pieces of red, pink, and yellow are also a common decoration in Southeast Asia.
Xie Daoyun's comparison of snow and willow catkins is a famous line of poetry and is used to refer to precocious young female poets.[2]
Europe
The flowering shoots of pussy willow are used both in Europe and America for spring religious decoration on Palm Sunday, as a replacement for palm branches, which do not grow that far north.[3]
Pussy willow also plays a prominent role in Polish
Middle East
In
References
- ^ Paula Tracy (18 April 2014). "Pussy willows a sure sign of spring". Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-8248-3186-8.
- ISBN 1-57607-089-1.
- ^ Kharinov, Vyacheslav. "Some Have Palms, Some Have Pussy-Willows". Orthodox Christianity. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ISBN 978-1-4408-3658-9.
- ISBN 978-1-5881-4179-8.