The wind sings a song
Quietly and a waving shake.
So she got tired
Stand alone by the pond.
Spit down into the water,
The branches tilted low,
Quietly crying in the morning.
From what? But why?
Did someone pull the pigtails?
Or her little water?
Always so sad one
Our willow by the pond.
Многие задаются вопросом: "Почему ива плачет?"The short answer to this question is not easy to give. It is contained in ancient folk legends and scientific research. What is the reason for the emergence of different versions of the explanation of this phenomenon?
Characteristics of moisture-loving willow
This unpretentious tree lives in many cornersour planet and has many varieties. Many people call it willow, wind, rustling tree, vine. Usually willow likes to grow in places where there is a lot of moisture: near the river, pond, lake. Also, willows have become a wonderful decoration of modern parks with ponds. This tree is very easy to plant, you can simply stick a broken branch into a wet ground, soon it will take root. The most important for a favorable habitat of willow is a sufficient amount of water, it is possible even in excess. This is the main reason why willow cries. It can grow even in flooded form. Translated from the Latin willow means "near the water."
Цветёт ива ранней весной.Her fluffy ear buds are very melliferous, and bee workers immediately rush toward them. Blossoming willow branches symbolize the arrival of spring, the first sunny days. Also, willows love a lot of light. And how beautiful the tree looks with its graceful twisted down branches, which resemble loose long strands of hair!
Willow's Little Secret
Each plant has its own mystery.Everyone wonders why the willow tree cries. Early in the morning the little willow leaves are covered with dew drops. Under the influence of the wind, the drops playfully fall into the water, a picture is created that the plant is crying. What are the causes of these tears? There are many beliefs, legends and scientific explanations of this touching spectacle.
Why willow cries: a scientific explanation
Few trees are able to emit drops of moisture onleaves. This process is called guttation. It arises from the fact that the roots absorb moisture much more than it can evaporate the crown. When guttation occurs:
- Most often there are droplets at dawn, at night or before the rain.
- Contributes to this process, increased soil moisture.
- Young willows are more likely to evaporate moisture on the leaf surface, because they are still at the growth stage, and the whole system is not yet balanced.
- Many grass and herbaceous plants also give in to guttations.
- If the excess moisture is not removed, then mineral substances will not enter the crown.
Such is the interpretation of biologists, why the weeping willow cries.
Folk beliefs associated with willow
- Our ancestors considered willow to be a very strong amulet. She was sanctified, and she protected her family from adversity. To do this, a lot of strength was needed, so she cried.
- Consecrated willow twigs could not be trampled under foot, it was better to burn them. Many believed that by resentment and pain, the tree was capable of crying.
- There was a belief that willow branches can stop the bad weather with a strong hail. In this case, the branches were thrown in the courtyard, and hail ceased. Willow after that began to cry.
- Of particular importance is the tree for the celebrationPalm Sunday. It is celebrated the week before Easter. All Orthodox believers visit temples and sanctify willow branches. Previously, these rods also poked each other, freeing themselves from the accumulated sins. Willow could only cry.
- The willow oncelebrating Ivan Kupala. Her girls dressed up with wild flowers, wreaths, ribbons. From the branches of willow they made madder, which they then threw one in the middle of the reservoir. Willow also wept over her fate.
Romantic Legends
There are many ancient legends about why willow cries. Some of them are worth staying at:
- Once upon a time, a willow was pulling its branches to the sky.The wind rustled playfully with foliage, and the birds flew to this noise and built their nests there. Under one of these willows, there was one loving couple: a young hunter and a beautiful girl. These meetings lasted until the guy sent the matchmakers to the girl. But, unfortunately, a local bandit fell in love with a young beauty, who decided to kill his rival. He waylaid the hunter and struck him a fatal blow. The girl hid with the dying bridegroom under a willow tree and wept bitterly until she turned into a willow tree. She cried for so long that a lake formed from her tears. Since then, willows have been crying over water.
- And here is another beautiful ancient story aboutwhy willow is crying. Many years ago there was an unbearable heat, the sun was drying the earth strongly, the reservoirs became smaller and smaller. Along the shore of a small lake, curly willows grew, which, in search of moisture, took their roots very deep into the ground. The water in the lake every day all decreased and decreased. Then the willows decided to tilt their branches to the water itself in order to shelter it from the scorching sun. So they protected the lake from evaporation. After a while, God sent the long-awaited rain to the earth. On long willow branches the drops fell into the lake, and soon it was again filled with water. So the willows became the savior of their lake. Therefore, it is considered a good sign if these trees, which are crying in the morning, grow near the reservoir.
Important about willow
The willow tree grows very fast, buthe has a short life expectancy of 60-70 years. The willow brings great benefits to the birds: they nest on it and in the spring feed on the ear buds. The green branches of willow are loved by many animals: sheep, goats. People use willow for medicinal purposes. From it make broths and infusions for the treatment of wounds and other ailments.
