Tell Me A Story - Part 2 - Origin of Strawberries
By healerwitch
16 comments
A Cherokee myth
When the first man was created and a mate was given to him, they lived together very happily for a time, but then began to quarrel, until at last the woman left her husband and started off toward Nûñâgûñ’yï, the Sun land, in the east.
The man followed alone and grieving, but the woman kept on steadily ahead and never looked behind, until Une’`länûñ’hï, the great Apportioner (the Sun), took pity on him and asked him if he was still angry with his wife. He said he was not, and Une’`länûñ’hï then asked him if he would like to have her back again, to which he eagerly answered yes.
So Une’`länûñ’hï caused a patch of the finest ripe huckleberries to spring up along the path in front of the woman, but she passed by without paying any attention to them. Farther on he put a clump of blackberries, but these also she refused to notice. Other fruits, one, two, and three, and then some trees covered with beautiful red service berries, were placed beside the path to tempt her, but she still went on until suddenly she saw in front a patch of large ripe strawberries, the first ever known.
She stooped to gather a few to eat, and as she picked them she chanced to turn her face to the west, and at once the memory of her husband came back to her and she found herself unable to go on. She sat down, but the longer she waited the stronger became her desire, for her husband, and at last she gathered a bunch of the finest berries and started back along the path to give them to him. He met her kindly and they went home together.
To this day Cherokee homes have strawberries in them to remind them of love and understanding!
13 Dec, 2009
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Comments
A lovely tale....worthy for our GoYpedia Folklore of Plants :))
13 Dec, 2009
Nice to know things like this.
13 Dec, 2009
I think it's great that we can learn so much from each other. I love to grow (and eat) strawberries but never knew about them having such a part in ancient customs. I will look at my humble little patch with more awareness from now on.
Thank you for re-telling such a lovely story HW. :~))
13 Dec, 2009
A wonderful legend HW....thanks for sharing.
13 Dec, 2009
Thanks all...there are a few more parts to come of myths of plants and the Cherokee people...there are tons of myths from other native people all over the world that revolve around plants...it is truly fascinating to me to look at plants through these different lenses of life!
=^..^=
14 Dec, 2009
What a beautiful story, Healerwitch...
14 Dec, 2009
Think these legends meant to connect us to flora and fauna might not be scientifically accurate but surely such indeginous people grew up to respect all that nature had to provide.
Recently heard an old Indian saying .. Nature will meet mans needs not his greeds what a wonderful ethos to live by.
15 Dec, 2009
Bonkersbon...I was taught through childhood...not to expect any wants met, but all needs.....when one lives and accepts life from that standpoint one is always much happier! Suddenly one's desires become much more reasonable! lol
=^..^=
16 Dec, 2009
'He who wants never gets' was a saying that I was brought up with. I think it means much the same and I don't 'want' except the best of health for my family.
16 Dec, 2009
agreed Ian! :)
17 Dec, 2009
I like this story very much. I became interested in NA legends and folk lore a couple of years ago, but for some reason I haven't found any about relationships within the families like this one. Most have to do with creation or lessons.
17 Dec, 2009
Weeds..there are tons of stories on all aspects of life.....I am only putting on GoY the ones relating to plants though. Some of the stories are also about heros...they relate history, to ensure it being remembered!
17 Dec, 2009
I have a few books with stories, but the majority are passed down from NA in Washington, Idaho and Oregon. Many are animal stories. I will be watching for more plant stories.
18 Dec, 2009
Wonderful story HW! I like it very much! :-) It's so interesting what they can tell us about the world around us. We miss so much living in towns & cities so it's very good to here of these stories.
Wishing you a happy Christmas.
19 Dec, 2009
Merry Christmas Balcony....and all your family!
20 Dec, 2009
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A lovely story :o)
It's nice to grow things with a story behind them
=^..^=
13 Dec, 2009