8/17/2023 0 Comments French marigold flower bokeh![]() ![]() Thought to attract the souls of the dead, the bright colors and smells of marigolds are used to create a path from a home’s front door to the ofrenda inside. The flowers decorate gravesites and home altars, known as ofrendas. Marigolds have been cultivated in Mexico for more than 2,000 years and are used to make floral arches, garlands, wreaths, and crucifixes. The marigold is a prominent element in Day of the Dead rituals, which originated in Mexico. Used to treat rashes, burns, and wounds, marigolds have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.In medieval times, marigolds were thought to be a treatment for the plague.The ancient Greeks and Romans used marigolds for medicinal purposes, to dye fabrics, and create cosmetics.It was once thought that marigolds could provide protection while crossing a river and from being hit by lightning.In Buddhism, marigolds are used to worship Buddha, while in Hinduism, the flowers are associated with the Sun and used in marriage celebrations.The flower has also been connected with death and grief. In more recent times, the flowers have been linked to optimism and prosperity, cheer and joy, love and strong emotions, wealth and success.Some believed the colors represented the beauty and warmth of the Sun and offered a power to resurrect. Many cultures believed that the bright orange and yellow colors, representing the rays of the Sun, could help guide departed loved ones to the afterlife.In India, giving a marigold lei was a sign of friendship.Because of their strong smell, gardeners once thought marigolds were poisonous.The common name, marigold, is a shortening of ”Mary’s gold.” It is said to have been named for the Virgin Mary.French marigolds were named due to their popularity in French gardens. While the names suggest otherwise, African marigolds do not originate in Africa and got their name when the flowers were brought through northwest Africa along a trade route. (Pot marigolds, native to southern Europe and a member of the Calendula genus, are not a true marigold.) ![]() Marigolds, a member of the aster family, and more specifically the Tagetes genus, have three main types: French, African (or American), and Signet, which appear in orange, yellow, red, and bi-colors, as well as other color combinations. Native to the Americas, from the southwestern United States to well into South America, marigolds are popular because of their ease of growing, low-maintenance, and colorful blooms from early summer through the first frost. ![]()
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