02/08/2006: "ALMOND FLOWERS IN THE WINTER"
name of author: Ra�lFor many these months relate to a magical time of the year, signifying the rebirth and the coming of spring. You can see almond trees all swathed in a blanket of fluffy white or pink colours, normally between the beginning of January and the middle of February.
The tree is probably a native of southwest Asia and north Africa but has been so extensively cultivated for so long over the warm temperate regions of the Old World, that its original natural distribution is obscure. Almonds are the fruit of the Amygdalus communis and are cultivated throughout the whole of the south of Europe, Syria, Persia, and Northern Africa.
The almond tree is highly revered in some cultures. The Chinese consider it a symbol of enduring sadness and female beauty. In India, consumption of almonds is considered to be good for the brain. Among the Hebrews, it was a symbol of watchfulness and promise due to its early flowering. Today, Jews still carry rods of almond blossom to the synagogues on great festival days. Christian symbolism often uses almond branches as a symbol of the Virgin Birth of Jesus. Paintings often include almonds encircling the baby Jesus and as a symbol of Mary. In the Bible Aaron is chosen among the other tribes of Israel by a rod that brought forth almond flowers. The almond tree is referred to in the Bible under the name of "Shaked", meaning "hasten". The word "Luz", which occurs in Genesis 30:37, and which some translations have as "hazel", is supposed to be another name for the almond.
