Narcissus (plant)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Cultural importance
The Narcissus flower is perceived quite differently in the east than in the west. Whereas in the west, the Narcissus flower is seen as a symbol of vanity, in China, the same flower is seen as a symbol of wealth and good fortune. The ancient Greeks believed this plant originated from the vain youth, Narcissus. He died after becoming so obsessed with his reflection in a pool he could not leave. The Greeks say that the gods turned his remains into the Narcissus flower. In ancient China, there is a legend about a poor but good man, who was brought many cups of gold and wealth by this flower. Since the flower blooms around this time of year, it has also become a symbol of Chinese New Year. Narcissus bulb carving and cultivation is even an art akin to Japanese Bonsai. If your Narcissus blooms on Chinese New Years, it is said to bring you extra wealth and good fortune throughout the year. On top of that, it has one of the sweetest fragrances of any flower. So it is highly revered in Chinese culture.
In Hawaii, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii sponsors a Chinese cultural festival, called the Narcissus Festival, culminating with a beauty pageant whose winner is called the Narcissus Queen.
The daffodil is the national flower of Wales. One species, Narcissus obvallaris, grows only in a small area around Tenby. In Wales it is traditional to wear a daffodil or a leek on Saint David's Day (March 1). This has led to suggestions that the word "daffodil" may have been influenced by the name "Dafydd," a Welsh form of "David" (see Etymology). However, in Welsh, the daffodil is known as Cenhinen Bedr (Peter's Leek).
In some countries the yellow variation is associated with Easter. The German for daffodil is Osterglocke, that is "Easter bell."
William Wordsworth's short poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" has become linked in the popular mind with the daffodils that form its main image.
In the movie Big Fish, Edward Bloom plants a field of daffodils outside of Sandra Templeton's window in order to win her heart.
In Ridley Scott's Alien, the Nostromo's shuttle craft in which Ripley played out the final battle with the alien was called Narcissus.
In Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, Amanda Wingfield carries in a bunch of jonquils, a type of daffodil, in her preparation for the Gentlemen Caller. She then reminisces that when she was young, and had many gentlemen callers, she was showered in jonquils by her many admirers.
There is a Daffodil Festival in Nantucket, MA the last weekend in April of every year. In this celebration of spring hundreds of antique cars are adorned with thousands of daffodils.
Daffodils are a part of E. E. Cummings' poem, "in a time of daffodils".
Freddie Mercury has been quoted as saying "I'm as gay as a daffodil, my dear."
In the visual novel Narcissu, which is named after the flower, a pair of patients with terminal illnesses (one with cancer) escape from hospice to journey to an island filled with daffodils. The Greek myth of Narcissus also serves as a metaphor in the novel.
In an episode of Futurama, "Daffodil" appears mysteriously as number two on Bender's most commonly spoken words. Daffodils are also a recurring visual gag, usually described as everyone's favorite flowers and are the only flowers most characters present others with.
In the manga and anime series Bleach, the insignia for the Tenth Division is the daffodil; the meaning behind it is Mystery, Egoism.
The Daffodil was voted the county flower of Gloucestershire following a survey by the wild flower and plant conservation charity, Plantlife.
