ilkbahar  nature photography  papatyalar  üsküdar  spring  türkiyenin papatyaları  daisies of turkey  daisies  

Flowers singing in springtime, Üsküdar District of Şehr-i Istanbul, Turkey ... No flower has been more universally sung and praised by poets than the beautiful humble Daisy. In early times, the Daisy signified womanly truth, purity and fidelity, and patient endurance. Being a flower of light, open, it is the emblem of the soul, closed, it is the emblem of purity.

The daisy was said to spring from the tears of Mary Magdalene. It was known as God's Smile and Day's eye, an Angle Saxon name which had morphed to the current word daisy. This is because the flower opened and closed with the sun's rays. In magic, it would be used in any fair weather spells or rites to honour the Sun. The daisy was associated with Venus, commonly used as a lovers' divination, plucking the petals whilst chanting she/he loves me, she/he loves me not. Medieval knights wore daisy chains made for them by their Ladies when they rode into battle or tournaments, as a sign of their affection and defence of their Ladies' honour.