Guava Fruit Symbolism Facts & Literature: Astrology, Omens, Dreams, and Legends
I
Guava Fruit Symbolism & Meaning
Throughout the tropical world, the guava is a common tree that grows almost anywhere and is intertwined in the community as a fruit-giving tree. Because of this, the guava fruit became a symbol of abundance, prosperity, and sustenance. It is also linked to hospitality as the fruit is commonly shared with the family and guests.
In many cultures, guava is a symbol of fertility and healthy indulgence because of its abundant blooms of fruits at once. In the Western world, guava is often a fruit that symbolizes a tropical paradise.
Guava abundantly grows outside of its native habitat, often taking space and nutrition from native tree species, making it associated with greed. However, because of its fruit, the guava is valued as a giver of good fortune and transformation.
The guava fruit holds a revered place in many cultures, commonly being seen as a fruit of protection, purity, and a connection to the divine.
Guava Health is a mobile app that holistically tracks your health and safeguards its user’s personal health information and documents. The app’s icon is an abstract image of a green circle with a small leaf at its upper right, depicting a guava.
GuavaHR is a platform for internal organizations and their employees for quick and easy communication. Their emblem is a white outline of a guava with a green background.
GuavaTech is a South African company established in 2015 that offers technology solutions to the public and private sectors. Their icon is an orange graphic of the letter g with a green dot on its upper right, using guava colors.
II
Guava Fruit Positive & Negative Symbolism
The guava is steeped in positive symbolism ranging from purity, protection, and divine connection to sustenance, community, and fertility. It is also closely associated with good fortune, paradise, health, and hospitality.
Its only negative symbolism is greed which is earned through its introduction to different lands, competing for nutrients with other native trees.
III
Guava Fruit Origin
The guava fruit’s origin is undisputedly in Central America and surrounding areas such as the Caribbean, Mexico, and the northern part of South America. The earliest evidence of the guava fruit can be found in Peru dating to be as old as 2500 BC.
Through trade and colonization, the guava was introduced to other parts of the world, firstly traveling upwards to the USA where thriving crops of guava are present in tropical parts of the country.
During the colonial era, the Spanish and the Portuguese colonizers introduced the fruit to Asia, establishing the guava along with other fruits as a valuable crop for trade and food.
IV
Guava Fruit Cultural Symbolism
In Latin America, the guava fruit is one of the staple ingredients of the local cuisine. Its tangy flavor is one of the signatures of traditional recipes and is commonly used to make paste and fillings for pastries. Guava is also the main ingredient of the alcoholic drink punch.
Guava is used in a number of medicinal traditions in many regions including Asia, the Caribbeans, Central America, and Africa. Folk medicine uses guava to cure ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, inflammation, wounds, ulcers, and more.
Many cultures around the world also used the guava fruit, its leaves, and trees in ancient ceremonies and traditional rituals. In such ceremonies, the guava are commonly used with the belief that it holds the power to bring good luck and offers protection against evil forces.
Offering guava fruits as food to guests and visitors is also a symbol of goodwill and hospitality from the hosts in many cultures.
V
Guava Fruit in Art and Literature
Marianne North, an English Victorian painter and botanist known for her travels and artwork created a still-life guava painting in 1878.
The German illustrator, naturalist, and anthropologist created the illustration titled, Spiders, ants and hummingbird on a branch of a guava in 1705 depicting said species on a branch bearing a single guava fruit.
Albert Eckhout, a notable Dutch still-life and portrait painter created the oil painting in 1650 titled Bananas, guavas, and other fruits, a still-life painting of various tropical fruits in his naturalist style.
In 1998, the Indian author Kiran Desai published her first novel Hullaballoo in the Guava Orchard, earning her the top prize in the Betty Trask Awards.
The 2022 novel, The Guava Tree by Andrew Diaz Winkelmann depicts the journey of Cuban immigrants. The cover of the novel is ripe with guava fruits.
Another novel published in 2022 is the sapphic romance story titled Guava Flavored Lies by J.J. Arias.
VI
Guava Favorite Fruit: Traits and Personality
If the guava is your favorite fruit, this could indicate that you have a personality that is adaptable, extroverted, and dependable. It reflects you of being an independent person and know what you want in life. You are sweet to those around you but can be a sour person when dealing with challenges.
VII
Guava Fruit in Astrology or Zodiac
The zodiac sign Scorpio has the most affinity for the guava fruit among all the signs. Passionate Scorpio can be loyal, stubborn, and ambitious, traits necessary to establish themselves in any area, just like the guava’s ability to be a staple fruit anywhere it is introduced.
VIII
Guava Fruit in Dreams
When dreaming of a guava fruit, dream interpretation indicates this to mean good things and benefits are to come. This can be in the form of money, opportunities, or good fortune.
IX
Guava Fruit Omens and Superstitions
A Filipino superstition dictates that after a wake or a funeral, attendees must wash their hands in water with guava leaves to ward off negative energy.
Among farmers, there is a superstitious belief that a good yield of guava will result in a good rice crop.
X
Guava Fruit Legends, Mythology, and Folklore
A legend in the Philippines tells the story of the origin of guava. Once there was a selfish king named Barabas. He was selfish and greedy, never caring about his people. One day, an old lady asked for food but the king turned her away. After King Barabas grew sick and eventually died. No one mourned the greedy king but on his grave grew a fruit-bearing fruit. His people grew to like the fruit and saw it as an apology from their king for his negligence in life. They named the fruit bayabas, after King Barabas.
