Violas and Pansies: Folklore, Mythology, legends and properties of these beautiful flowers

Some photography close ups of pansies I've taken during the month along with folklore, mythology, curiosities and properties of these vibrant flowers. I have to say I do not believe in superstitions but most legends always have a truth to which they root. So all in all I hope you find the article interesting and curious and make you appreciate the little cheerful blooms more.

Viola tricolor (scientific name provided by Linneo in 176) is a native European and Asian wild flower ( and the garden hybrids and cross varieties created in the XIX century crossing different Viola sp.) that bloom in April-September and come in a myriad of colours, even black! They can be of a solid color of more famously offer fancy three coloured patterns.

As they are easy to grow and now these cheerful vibrant flowers are very typical of gardens worldwide). The name and pansies and Violas often mix sometimes though Pansies have bigger petals and are more upright, but both belonging to Violaceae Family are linked in its folklore and mythology.

Above: Pansy close up showing two large petals overlapping at the top, two side petals, a lower petal with slight indentation, and beards at the center. Because the of this configuration that makes three large petals conspicuous they're also called "three petals in a hood"

Linked to Love in many legends and folklore

Both pansies and the related Violets are related to Venus (Love Goddess) and thus have been traditionally linked to love and love potions as a symbol of fertility and love. And that reflects in many of the numerous names. Violets in facts have been a symbol of constancy whether pansies are more related with "thinking about someone"

According to Greek mythology God Zeus feel in love with Io, the daughter of the River God Inachus, and when his jealous wife Hera was about to find him out he transformed the girl into a white cow. The Zeus grew pansies for his lover and the main petals represent the love triangle.

Lore also says that at one time all pansies were white, but they were pierced by Cupid's arrow that they gained the purple and yellow colors becoming a potent ingredient for love potions. Similarly Greek legend has it that its previously white flowers were worshiped by Eros. So to inhibit this worship, jealous Aphrodite colored them.

Above: wild violet in the forest floor

A flower with hundreds of names

The world "pansy" comes from the French word pensée, "thought" as a symbol of remembrance. The petals look indeed like a human face. In Spanish we call them "pensamientos" (thoughts).
You can give a pansy to someone you love dearly (not necessarily romantic love) or think about.
It's also a symbol of "free thinking"

"There's pansies, that's for thoughts" - Ophelia (Hamlet)
Being often related to love these flowers have a myriad of common names and any of them are related to love.
Thus It is known with many other names like "heart's ease", "heart's delight", "love in idleness" "call-me-to-you", "love-lies-bleeding" and some funny ones like "tickle my fancy" "jack jump up and kiss me", "kiss me at the garden gate", "come and cuddle" among others.

Some old legends say that you can bewitch someone to love you if you sprinkle the juice of the flowers on the eyelids of a sleeping person and make sure you're the first person they see in the morning.

In Italy pansies are known as flamolas (little flame)

In some European countries like Germany they are called "Stepmothers" and the large petal is the mother, the two side petals the daughters and the small petals the stepdaughters.

In Shakespeare "A midsumer Night's Dream" they're used to make a love potion

"It fell upon a little western flower,
Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound,
And maidens call it Love-in-idleness." A Midsummer Night's Dream

The three petals have been said also to represent the Christian Trinity and so sometimes called "herb of the Holy trinity".

To be a "pansy" has been used since Elizabethan times as derogative to refer to effeminate men, but honestly, they are known for their endurance and strength, so I guess it's not an insult even if intended.

They can also be an omen

Legends say if you plant "pansies" in the shape of a heart in your garden your love will prosper.
In Victorian England, people gave these flowers to each other to express romantic feelings.
In Slavic countries, it's believed they're not for the living but the dead and more often found in graves than gardens. There is a legend of a girl called Anyuta, that withered waiting for the fake promises of her beloved and died, and pansies grew on her grave, and the petals resemble a face with eyes ever waiting for the beloved that deserted her, this could have be linked to that belief.

For some reason, for some reason
We call flowers with our eyes
In honor of some Anyuta,
And we don't know which one.
("Pansies" by Olga Vysotskaya 1966)

King Arthur’s Knights were told to have used pansies for divinatory purposes looking for certain signs by plucking their petals. If it had four veins, there was hope for victory.
Their use for divination also extends to several legends about plucking its petals and showing different veins or dispositions, the tradition was carried on until Victorian times.
A German legend says that once they had such a strong fragrance that people would trouble to smell them trampling the grass for cattle. The flowers turned upwards and asked god to protect the cows and God took away the scent from the flowers.

Legends also say that if you pick a pansy when there are dewdrops on the petals death of a beloved.
In British there is a old saying that if you pick one one a sunny day it will become stormy.
They typically bloom Spring to Summer, so finding blooming ones in Autumn according to lore is believed to be an omen of plague and disease.

Medicinal properties

They are not only ornamental but medicinal and all the parts of the plants from blooms to roots can be used.
The flowers are edible and slightly sweet so they can be used in cakes and salads. In the case of violets they are often candied.
As mentioned before since the Greek they have been related to love. Celts also used the leaves for tea for similar purpose.
Pliny said that a garland of violets could prevent spells (epilepsy) from happening.
They are told to have many medicinal properties and are anti-inflammatory and used for bronchitis and asthma. They are rich in mucilage and thus an excellent antitussive.
They are also rich in vitamins (A and C).
It has also salicylic acid and flavonoids so it's used also as antirheumatic
They are also good to clean toxins and is a potent diuretic, a tonic, emetic and purgative.
Internal (tea or tincture) or external (decoction on the skin) use provides relief for skin disorders like acne, psoriasis or eczema.
Its use to heal wounds has been also reported since the XVI century.

Me and my pansy floral cape

Some of these pictures I've shared before but as they come related with the current article I re-share some of them. the cape was made by my friends at El Costurero Real and they printed the petals on the fabric.

All photos have been taken by my Priscilla Hernandez @yidneth. All the flower pictures taken with my phone Spring 2022

I will upvote all meaningful comments with proof of reading

Enjoy Spring...!