4029) a) Salix babylonica (Babylon willow or weeping willow); b) The story of a Cat: Stamps issued by HP Mostar under the Series - "About Myths and Flora": Date/Year of Stamps issue: 11.07.2025:
Salix babylonica (Babylon willow or weeping willow) is a species of willow native to dry areas of northern China, Korea, Mongolia, Japan, and Siberia but cultivated for millennia elsewhere in Asia, being traded along the Silk Road to southwest Asia and Europe.
Description:
Salix babylonica is a medium- to large-sized deciduous tree, growing up to 20–25 m (66–82 ft) tall. It grows rapidly, but has a short lifespan, between 40 and 75 years. The shoots are Yellowish-brown, with small buds. The leaves are alternate and spirally arranged, narrow, light green, 4–16 cm (1.6–6.3 in) long and 0.5–2 cm (0.2–0.8 in) broad, with finely serrate margins and long acuminate tips; they turn a gold-yellow in autumn. The flowers are arranged in catkins produced early in the spring; it is dioecious, with the male and female catkins on separate trees.
More on the Weeping Willow:
The Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica) is a deciduous tree species from the willow family. It arrived in Europe via the Silk Road from northern China.
Symbolism and Myths:
The symbolism and myths associated with the Weeping Willow vary across cultures. In ancient Greece, it was believed to be connected to the afterlife due to the rapid regeneration of its branches. The drooping branches and the way raindrops flow down its leaves, as if crying, symbolize pain and sorrow. In ancient mythology, the goddess of the underworld and protector of magic, Hecate, used a willow wand. In China, the willow is seen as a symbol of rebirth, vitality, and immortality.
According to a Chinese legend, a cat sadly cried by the riverbank because her kittens had drowned in the river after chasing butterflies.
Willows grew along the riverbank, and out of sympathy, they lowered their long branches into the water, which the kittens clung to, allowing them to climb to safety. Since then, the willow branches have remained bent towards the water, forming a beautiful canopy, the most beautiful among willows. Where the kittens had held onto the branches with their little paws, small furry buds grew, which the people named "cica – mace" (kittens).
The Stamp:
Technical details:
Issue Date: 11.07.2025
Designer: Zoran Vlašić
Printer: AKD d.o.o. Zagreb
Size: 29,82 x 35,50 mm
Values: 3,60 BAM
Links:
Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very interesting Post."
Thank you so much Trikha sahab.
DeleteSantosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"A VERY informative and interesting post. Thanks for sharing."
Thank you so much Khanna sahab.
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