Its flowers were also laid on the graves as a sign of respect for those who had passed away.ĭuring the Italian Risorgimento the strawberry tree was considered a symbol of the national unity. The Romans attributed to arbutus magical powers: even now, in some areas, you can find strawberry tree branches with three berries hung at home to endear good luck. The strawberry tree is an ancient fruit, with a long history interwoven with legends, myths and rituals. The arbutus, strawberry tree in English, seems a fairy tree or, better, the tree of snack baskets from The Wizard of Oz… it is, in itself, a magical tree because during autumn and winter it brings proudly on its branches at the very same time the leaves, the white flowers, which symbolize the hospitality, and the colorful and sweetish fruit. While bustling in the kitchen, I realized that I was falling in love with that sweet and grainy berries, beautifully fading from yellow to scarlet. The next day I was happily picking arbutus berries in her garden and the very same day I was making jam. Then I asked her where she had found those delicious berries. A dear family friend, Maura, gave me a jar of home-made strawberry tree jam.
3 – Call it by its English name, strawberry tree, because it makes me happy and because I want to make friends with it. 2 – Revel myself in its good and fun fruit. 1 – Buy a strawberry tree ( Arbutus unedo).
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