Happy belated Flora and Fauna Friday! Today's post is about the Red campion!
Red campion Fairy flower, Red catchfly, Adder's flower, Devil's flower, Harels eye, Ragged Jack, Robins, Soldiers, White soapwort, English maiden and Silene.
The red campion is a distinctive pink-red flower, with five petals that are fused at their base to form a tube surrounded by a purple-brown protective sheath. They are favourites of plenty of woodland insects such as moths, butterflies and bees. They bloom a cheerful pink soon after the bluebells have finished flowering. The red campion has strong connections with myth and folklore. The plant is not edible, and its herbal use is limited, but the roots have been used to make soap substitutes, and the flowers for charms and spells to ward against loneliness.
The Latin name for the red campion is 'Silene Dioica'. The word Silene comes from the greek name Silenus. In Greek mythology Silenus, was the drunkard god of wine making and the woodlands. Silenus gave his name to the red campion, because like Silenus, the red campion likes to drink and will thrive in moist soil. Silenus was regarded as the father of the woodland spirits the Sileni, who were part human and part animal. The woodland sileni were wise but wild and embodied nature and its fertility, much like the essence of the red campion.
Old folk magic describe the red campion as the fairies flower. The belief is that the red campion flowers were associated with the mischievous fairy Puck, a fairy trickster of british folklore, who is charming, sly, amoral, and rather dangerous to encounter. In some parts of country, the picking of campion is discouraged, for this invites the fairies attention and would also provoke the wrath of the fairies. It is also believed that fairies used the flower to protect their honey stores and also offered a hiding place for the fae. There is also a belief that it is bad luck to bring the flowers into your home. However in the the southwest of England, the red campion is considered a lucky flower, and when in the house it represents the fairies blessing, provided it's been picked with care and respect. The red campion also has a more sinister side in folklore, being associated with devils, goblins, misfortune, and even death. In folklore, it was considered unlucky to pick the flower because it could whisk up a thunderstorm, yet the plant was hung over doors for protection from lightning strikes. It was also believed there was a risk of being bitten by a snake if you picked a red campion before sundown.
As always, Take Flight On The Wings Of Night...
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