May blossom has a rich history in folklore and culture, with roots dating back to ancient times. It's often associated with the month of May, which is why it's called may blossom.
In many European cultures, may blossom is seen as a symbol of love and fertility, particularly in medieval times. This is reflected in traditional May Day celebrations, where may blossom is often used in rituals and ceremonies.
May blossom is also a popular ingredient in traditional medicine, particularly in the form of tea. This is due to its high concentration of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds.
In some parts of the UK, may blossom is still picked and used to make a sweet, fragrant tea that's said to have various health benefits.
What is May Blossom?
May Blossom is a type of flowering tree.
It is native to Europe and Western Asia, specifically in the mountainous regions of Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria.
May Blossom trees typically bloom in late spring, producing small, white or pink flowers that are highly fragrant.
These flowers are a key food source for bees and other pollinators.
May Blossom trees can grow up to 10 meters tall, with a spread of around 5 meters.
Their bark is smooth and grey, becoming rougher with age.
In traditional medicine, May Blossom has been used to treat a variety of ailments, including fever and respiratory issues.
The leaves and flowers of the tree have been used in herbal remedies for centuries.
May Blossom is also a popular ornamental tree in gardens and parks, valued for its beautiful flowers and attractive foliage.
Additional reading: Bonsai Cherry Blossom Trees
May Blossom in Folklore
May blossom has a long history of being considered unlucky in British folklore. According to the Folklore Society's survey, it was the most widely regarded as inauspicious plant, with 23.5% of the material received relating to it.
Some people believed that bringing may blossom indoors would bring bad luck, and could even result in a dead child or the death of one's mother. The form this bad luck might take varied, but it was often associated with death or illness.
In some areas, people were forbidden to take may blossom into the house, and it was believed to be associated with unregulated love in the fields, rather than conjugal love in the bed. This might be why it was seen as unlucky to bring it indoors.
It's worth noting that the association of may blossom with bad luck may have originated from folk memories of pre-Christian May Day celebrations, where a May Queen was crowned with such blossoms. However, there is no evidence to support this idea.
The scent of may blossom was also believed to be unpleasant, with some people describing it as exactly like the smell of the Great Plague of London. This might be because the flowers contain trimethylamine, which is formed when animal tissues decay.
In folklore, may blossom was also associated with the end of frost, with the old saying being that it won't bloom until the danger of frost is past. This is not always true, but it's a useful weather guide for most of the British Isles.
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