A Complete Analysis of Sage's Floral Language, Symbolism and Legendary Stories
Sage is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean coastal regions, also known as European sage, southern danshen, shijianchuan, and other names. It is an aromatic plant of the genus Salvia in the Lamiaceae family, with many different uses and benefits. It is often cultivated as a kitchen herb or medicinal herb, with flowers ranging from blue to blue-purple. Let's take a look at sage's floral language and legends below!
Sage's Floral Language
Family values. If you like this flower, you value chastity, are open and aboveboard, and are a person of upright character. You love your family, have an intellectual side, and are extremely creative. Those whom you love can enjoy a full sense of security. To achieve your ideals, you spare no time or energy, and you are a late bloomer. Purple sage's floral language is wisdom, red sage's floral language is a burning heart, blue sage's floral language is rationality, and pineapple sage's floral language is passionate longing.
Sage's Blooming Period
Sage blooms from June to September. In autumn, when the flower buds have already formed, do not prune, to avoid cutting off the buds. After the first round of blooming, remove the withered branches, and the remaining side branches will quickly bloom again. In low-altitude areas, it will bloom 3 to 4 rounds each year. Sage can last one month from blooming to fading, with a single flower lasting 2 to 3 days. Generally, after the flowers fade, the plant will wither and needs to be replanted from seeds.
The Legend of Sage
When the savage, cruel, and murderous King Herod slaughtered villages near Bethlehem, cutting the throat of every child, Maria held her newborn baby tightly to her bosom, against her fear-trembling chest, and fled to the mountains of Judea.
On the road of escape, her husband saw a village in the distance and went ahead alone to beg for some help. Even just a little water for his child. Alas, but the people in this village were so sadly cruel by nature that no one was willing to give them any water or let them rest in their home for a while, not even a few comforting words.
So the husband had to lead the donkey to a distant public well to drink. Poor Maria had to sit alone by the roadside, holding her child. Suddenly, she heard the sound of hoofbeats gradually approaching from afar, and the ground began to tremble violently. Herod's soldiers were coming! Where could she hide? There was not even a small hole around to hide in, only the nearest cluster of low bushes, among which a rose was in full bloom.
Maria came to the rose: Rose, beautiful rose, the poor mother pleaded, please bloom all your petals and hide this baby whom they want to kill and his mother who is already half-dead with fear. The rose wrinkled her button-like pointed nose and replied: Leave quickly, young woman, for those butchers will harm and defile me. Go see the lilac nearby and ask her to hide you; she has enough flowers to do so.
Maria then came to the lilac: Lilac, lovely lilac, the fleeing woman begged, please spread your body and hide this child who is about to be killed and his exhausted mother. The lilac shook her head and refused Maria without even giving a reason: Leave quickly, unfortunate woman, I do not even have time to listen to you. I am busy blooming all over. Go see the sage nearby; for her there is nothing better than doing good.
Maria then came to the sage: Ah, sage, sage, the unfortunate mother begged, please spread your branches and leaves and hide this innocent baby whose life is in danger and his mother who is half-dead from hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and fear. The sage immediately grew lush branches and leaves, covering the ground around her. Her soft leaves formed a large canopy, hiding mother and child completely.
The soldiers of Herod who passed by on the road did not see a single person. Hearing their footsteps, Maria trembled with fear, but her baby, gently caressed by the soft branches and leaves, showed a faint smile. Then, just as they had hurriedly come, the butcher soldiers hurriedly left. After they had gone far away, Maria held Jesus and came out from the green, flower-dotted hiding place. Sage, oh sage, thank you. I pray for your good deed, and from now on everyone will remember you.
Her husband also found her and the child again, and he had also met a kind person who gave his donkey a full large plate of barley. The animal became energetic again and carried mother and child onward. Joseph had great difficulty keeping up with them. From then on, the rose grew thorns on its branches, the lilac gave off a strong stench, and the sage possessed many medicinal benefits.