Back in ancient Greek mythology, the Myrtle tree was very sacred. Aphrodite the goddess of love and beauty looked upon the myrtle favorably which is why back then it was planted in her temple gardens.
Aphrodite and other goddesses in ancient mythologies are often depicted with myrtle crowns. Today fragrant sprigs of Myrtle have been included in wedding bouquets to symbolize the bride’s love and beauty, especially in the European region.
This lovely tree has not only been used for ornamental purposes within a wedding or a home but it is also a tree known for the abundance of dainty and aromatic leaves all year.
During the summer beautiful star-like flowers blossom and emit this lovely fragrance that bees love. Then in autumn the trees edible blueberries ripen and their delicious spicy-sweet flavor makes them quite the treat for anyone who has planted this tree within their property.
Often times the berries are steeped in alcohol to make that the famous and delicious liqueur known as Mirto.
Mrytle Symbolism
Aside from all these, this tree is known for its rich symbolism and meaning and further outlined below are some of the interesting ones.
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Symbol Of Abundance
According to Bible references, the myrtle tree is seen as a symbol of God’s promised blessings or abundance. We see references in scripture such as ” Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree; and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree (Isaiah 55:13) It a prophetic verse about the promises of blessings by God.
To this day Christians regard this tree as a sign of God’s blessings in the land. Those who have this tree growing within their property or have the flowers in their home believe that prosperity and wealth will be experienced in the home and that the tree and its flowers emanate positive vibes.
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Symbol of Chastity and Innocence
This tree is a great symbol chastity and innocence which is why it has been used in many religious rituals and ceremonies.
For example, we see it used in the Feat of Tabernacles in the bible according to Nehemiah 8:15 where we see reference to “the branches of thick trees” which when interpreted in the Talmud they are actually myrtle boughs.
The reason why the myrtle tree is a symbol of chastity an innocence is because their gentle leaves and white colored flowers are a strong reminder.
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A Symbol Of Good Luck In Love And Marriage
A few small branches along with myrtle flowers have been gifted to brides during weddings and been used as wedding decorations.
This is because it is widely believed that this flower and branches are bringers of good luck to the newlyweds. They have been used to decorate pathways during weddings and even the bride’s head in order to attract positive energy.
The plant has also been used as a symbol of marital fidelity, long-lasting love, and respect between the couple. This is why since back then in Victorian England when Queen Victoria’s daughter who was also called Victoria carried a branch of the Myrtle on her wedding day when walking down the aisle, to date every woman in the royal family has had to carry a branch from this tree on their wedding day, for purposes of bringing good luck to the marriage.
A most recent example is during Kate Middleton’s wedding where we saw the myrtle among her wedding bouquet.
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Symbol of healing
The myrtle has for a long time been a symbol of wellness and healing. Literally, the myrtle has for a long time been known as the healing plant and its herbs and fruits have been used for healing purposes.
This is due to the essential oil tannins, bitter substances, resins and organic acids that accelerate the wellness process in the body.
Myrtle berries have been known to improve digestion and enhance one’s appetite. Ancient Greeks also used the myrtle leaves as an antiseptic which is why its extract was used to cure lung and bladder infections.
Today the myrtle is still used for medicinal purposes where myrtle tea has been used to help in the healing process of cases such as colds, asthma, bladder or bowel inflammation, skin problems like acne, sores, bruising, eczema, psoriasis and so on.
Since it heals and improves many conditions, it is not only medicine but a great symbol of wellness and healing.
Myrtle Color Meaning
The colors in the myrtle tree have strong symbolism too. Many cultures view the color symbolism differently. Some of the main color meanings of this tree common with cultures around the world are as follows.-
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Green Leaves
The green leaves of the myrtle tree are a symbol of wellness, prosperity, and abundance. The tree, when planted within the home, has been known to attract positive vibes of prosperity and abundance.
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Purple Myrtle flowers
The purple color is often a symbol of royalty, power, and beauty. It is a good flower to gift someone you happen to like to highly respect.
You can still use a bunch of purple myrtle flowers as part of your home décor. It has been commonly used as the centerpiece of many homes for the purpose of sending a message of love, respect, and appreciation to anyone who sees it or is gifted with it.
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White Myrtle flowers
White myrtle flowers are a strong symbol of innocence, love, spirituality, and partnership. This flower is commonly used as decoration in weddings and also as part of the bride’s bouquet since they are also believed to influence good luck.
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Pink Myrtle flowers
The pink color is a symbol of romance, love femininity and gentleness. It is a flower that can be gifted to anyone that the gifter wants to show respect to. It could be an ideal gift to a parent, boss, partner or spouse.
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Fuschia Myrtle flowers
This is the color that is a strong symbol of femininity, power, and confidence. Myrtle flowers of this color can be gifted to that special someone that you would love to get closer to.
Conclusion
The myrtle tree is an important tree, strong in symbolism for many cultures and very useful as we have seen. It has been around a long time and it continues to exist with its powerful symbolism and useful medicinal qualities that continue to be key in both traditional and modern medicine.
On behalf of the author, thank you so much for taking the time to read this article !
