A maple leaf looks like an open palm. The botanical name "Acer" (in Latin "sharp") was given to the plant by the ancient Roman scientist Pliny. According to some researchers, maples grew along the banks of the river of sorrow, Acheron, through which the souls of the dead Greeks were transported to the last journey. In most cultures of the world, maple is considered a symbol of autumn. In Japan, this tree symbolizes eternity, learning, life wisdom. Therefore, it is often planted in their gardens by elderly people with great life experience. The Germans associate it with the beauty of life. Before the funeral, the Poles laid their dead on unpainted maple wood: it was believed that this frightens off the devil.
Serbs believed that maple would help restore justice: a tree would turn green from the arms of an innocently condemned person. In the folklore of the Eastern Slavs, maple is often called sycamore. It was believed that it was in this tree that the person who was "sworn" turns into. Therefore, just in case, maple firewood was not used for kindling the furnace, making utensils and coffins; when baking bread in the furnace, maple leaves were not placed under the loaf.
But in the old days, the legendary harp was made from maple, and nowadays - bassoons, guitars and drums. The Slavs believed that musical instruments from sycamore sing and cry, complaining of fate. On Trinity and other religious holidays, it was customary to decorate houses with maple branches, so that the souls of deceased relatives could fly to the living, hiding among the branches. Some folklorists are convinced that sycamore was the sacred tree among the Slavs, since maple mentions are found in all regions, and the use of the names of other trees has a pronounced localization.
An interesting tradition existed in Russian villages - “threading through a maple tree”. A newborn child was “threaded” between the branches of a maple so that his life was long. Those who believe in the special energy of plants are convinced that maple is able to "caress" a person, bring peace of mind. A tree takes on human emotions, sometimes without our desire. Therefore, under the crown of a maple, it is good to relieve stress and poorly confess love. The maple alley has a particularly strong energy; it is not without reason that they are often planted close to hospitals and psychiatric hospitals.
The red leaf of maple will bring love to your house, bewitch the chosen one. The branches of sycamore and its seeds defend against dark forces: even a stake for breaking a vampire’s heart in legends could not be aspen, but maple. A maple bridge was built over the running water of the river so as not to let a witch or a sorcerer pass.
Symbol of canada
However, there is a country for which the maple leaf is not folklore, but an official state symbol. He flaunts on flags and emblems, coins and logos of leading companies. And, of course, the team of national Canadian sports - hockey - is dressed in a uniform decorated with maple leaf. Why? The story is usually told that European migrants who arrived in North America saw a red maple flaming in red, and it became for them a symbol of new life on a foreign continent. However, maples grow almost throughout Europe, and our "clad and gold-clad forests" also turn red and yellow in the fall.
Some see a maple leaf in the outline of Canada on a map. The most plausible is still the next version. The symbol of Canada was not maple at all, but a specific type of maple - sugar maple, Acer saccharum, which grows only in eastern Canada and is of great importance in the national economy.
In ancient times, the Slavs also obtained maple juice, just the type of maples growing here is different, because Rusich did not use maple syrup, but kvass based on maple juice was very tasty. But back to the Canadians. Even the Indians extracted juice from trees and received sugar from it. Following them, white migrants began to engage in such fishing. 50-100 liters of juice were obtained from one tree, from which up to 5 kilograms of sugar came out.
From maple sugar, sweets were made, added to ice cream, caramel and creams. To this day, Canadians eat pancakes, ham and even pickles with maple syrup. In addition, today it has become a popular souvenir for tourists.
On the Canadian flag, a maple leaf symbolizes the unity of the country and he settled there not so long ago - in 1965.
Gardeners and furniture manufacturers respect this tree. Leaves, branches, bark, flowers, maple juice are widely used in medicine. Crafts from maple leaves are popular both among school teachers and professional florists. Skillful bouquets of roses, collages, appliques preserve the tender maple energy and decorate any interior.