Dangerous Plants According to Folk Beliefs: What Not to Keep in Your Home 0 18

Our ancestors have long paid close attention to the plants they brought into their homes.

Folk signs are part of our spiritual heritage. They do not always have a rational explanation, but they preserve the wisdom of generations.

Our ancestors have long paid close attention to the plants they brought into their homes. Some flowers and herbs were avoided by our ancestors, even though they looked very attractive. They were convinced that these plants attract diseases, misfortunes, and even evil forces. This is noted by the resource "Radio Trek."

What Popular Plants Should Not Be Brought into Your Home: Folk Signs

Reed. Our ancestors were very afraid of it, calling it the "flower of the dead" and never bringing it into their homes. According to folk beliefs, evil forces live in reeds, and the plant itself is associated with death. There was even a saying: "So that you are measured by reeds." In ancient times, reeds were used to measure the length of a deceased body before making a coffin. People believed that having reeds in the house attracts diseases, brings misfortunes and losses, and can "open doors" to evil forces. Modern florists also rarely use reeds in floral arrangements.

Fern. Despite the beautiful legend of the magical fern flower on Ivan Kupala, in many regions of the country, this plant was considered dangerous for the home. Our ancestors were convinced that ferns have the ability to drain a person's life energy, absorbing their emotions and strength. Folk signs say that ferns attract poverty and troubles, can cause apathy and weakness, and are "vampires" that suck energy from the inhabitants of the house. Therefore, ferns were never left in the house.

Water Lily. The delicate flowers of the water lily have always attracted attention with their beauty, but our ancestors treated them with caution. It was believed that these plants embody the souls of drowned girls who became mermaids. Cutting water lilies with a knife was considered a bad omen, so they were only pulled out of the water. Bringing a flower into the house meant inviting trouble. What did the signs say: the water lily brings bad dreams, can cause anxiety and fears, increases the risk of accidents, especially related to water. Therefore, flowers from lakes and ponds were not kept in living spaces.

Calla Lilies are considered a graceful and elegant plant, but in folk tradition, they have a bad reputation. In many countries, these flowers are considered funeral flowers, and they are also associated with death. According to one folk version, their shape resembles a funeral candle and a white shroud, which gave rise to a mystical attitude towards them. Brought into the home, they can attract diseases or misfortunes. They are not given to elderly women to avoid inviting bad luck. They are considered a symbol of mourning and the end of the life cycle.

Elderberry had a bad reputation among our ancestors. It was believed that the devil himself grew elderberry and that evil spirits inhabited it. Due to fear of its "master," the plant was hardly touched: it was not uprooted, cut, or brought home. According to folk beliefs, elderberry attracts evil spirits into the home, can bring diseases, and brings sorrow and danger to the owners. In places where elderberry grew, people tried not to build homes.