Lemon Fruit Symbolism Facts & Literature: Astrology, Omens, Dreams, and Legends
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Lemon Fruit Symbolism & Meaning
The lemon has many symbolic meanings accumulated throughout the centuries of its cultivation.
The lemon is predominantly a symbol of wealth, abundance, and prosperity. Lemon trees planted in backyards have been seen as symbols of luxury and nobility since ancient times.
The lemon’s bright yellow color made it a symbol of love and friendship. Its scent and flavor also made it a symbol of freshness, purification, and longevity.
Other symbols of the lemon include uniqueness, perhaps for the fruit’s shape, and wit. It also has been relevant to spirituality and femininity.
The sour taste of the lemon attributed it to a symbol of bitterness when things do not go as planned. This also made the lemon a symbol of defectiveness and disappointment.
Lemons by Tay and The Lemons Foundation is a nonprofit organization for mental health. Their emblem is a stylized image of a yellow brain with a leaf on top, resembling a lemon.
Saticoy Lemon Association is a California-based nonprofit agricultural cooperative established in 1933. Their emblem is a halved lemon with lemon flowers above the organization’s name.
Lemon is a Belgian-based digital provider of designs, strategies, and IT solutions. Their icon is a whole lemon cut in half.
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Lemon Fruit Positive & Negative Symbolism
Lemons are seen as symbols of happiness, prosperity, abundance, and friendship. Additionally, they are associated with purity, feminine spirituality, wealth, and nobility.
Lemons also have negative symbolism to their name. They are seen as symbols of disappointment, sourness, bitterness, and defectiveness.
The dual symbolism that surrounds lemons gave birth to the phrase “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Ultimately expressing turning a disappointing event or thing into something positive.
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Lemon Fruit Origin
The lemon has its origins in Asia, particularly spanning the regions of Northern India, China, and Northern Myanmar. The cultivation of golden fruit has a long history across these countries.
In antiquity, the lemon found its way to other parts of the globe through trade. It was introduced to Ancient Rome in 700 AD and eventually made its way to nearby empires such as Persia, and Greece.
Lemons became a popular product amongst the nobles in antiquity and its popularity eventually spread throughout the rest of the Mediterranean and the Arab world. The first written document about the lemon was found in ancient Arab treaties and it was mentioned in the 12th-century work titled Book of Agriculture by Ibn al-’Awwam.
Today, lemons are huge commodities in the world of agriculture and are iconic ingredients in cuisine and beverage.
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Lemon Fruit Cultural Symbolism
In India, the lemon has been considered a sacred fruit since antiquity. It is used in ritualistic ceremonies and Ayurvedic medicine. They are symbols of protection, believed to help ward off negative energies and the evil eye.
In Hinduism, several deities are depicted to be lemons and in their mythology, these vibrant fruits are used in rituals to quell the anger of Chandi or Maa Kali.
In ancient civilizations like Rome, China, and Egypt, lemons are rare commodities and are considered to be symbols of luxury and wealth. Lemons are also used for their oils in preserving food and as insect repellants.
Lemons were also important tools in warfare and rebellion, the Ancient Greeks, Persians, and Italians during the Renaissance used lemon-based invisible inks to send messages to allies.
In Italy, lemons are huge agricultural commodities. These fruits have become symbolic of fresh and succulent Mediterranean cuisine.
In general, lemons are a staple ingredient in the culinary world with many cultures using lemons in their traditional cuisine.
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Lemon Fruit in Art and Literature
Lemons have been a popular subject in art because of their unique appearance and rich symbolism.
Vincent van Gogh had created many paintings featuring the lemons throughout his career, displaying the changes in style in his artworks. Some notable examples are Still Life with Grapes, Lemons, Pears, and Apples in 1887, and Still Life with Oranges Lemons and Blue Gloves in 1889.
The French painter, Claude Monet also frequently used lemons as subjects in his paintings including Branch of Lemons in 1883 and Under the Lemon Trees in 1884.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, the 19th-century French academic classism painter known for his portraits created the painting titled Girl with Basket of Oranges and Lemons in 1871.
Contemporary painter, Wayne Thiebaud, known for his pop art paintings of common objects has several artworks of lemon desserts including Lemon Meringue Pie in 1964, Lemon Cake in 1964, and another Lemon Cake in 1997.
Likewise in literature, lemons are popularly used for their symbolism. In the Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin, Daenerys often remembers a lemon tree when she dreams of her childhood.
The Italian poet Eugenio Montale created the poem The Lemons, and there are several novels featuring lemons including the YA historical fiction by Zoulfah Katouh, As Long As Lemon Trees Grow, and The Lemon by S.E. Boyd.
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Lemon Favorite Fruit: Traits and Personality
If the lemon is your favorite fruit, this could mean that you are an analytical kind of person. You are often described as tidy, clean, and organized, bordering on anal at times. You are creative and tend to be critical or focus on the negative and it takes some effort to look at the brighter side of things.
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Lemon Fruit in Astrology or Zodiac
The lemon is most connected with the zodiac sign Pisces. Pisces can benefit from lemon as the fruit will help them branch out from their comfort zones. Lemons can be a great addition to many drinks or dishes, just like how Pisces brings their unique flare to any activity they join.
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Lemon Fruit in Dreams
Dreaming of lemons could mean that the dreamer is experiencing growth and spirituality; they are being guided by a divine hand. These dreams could also indicate that the dreamer is in a joyful state.
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Lemon Fruit Omens and Superstitions
According to superstition, when a driver has a new car, they must crush four lemons–one for each wheel, on their first drive to prevent any accidents in the future.
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Lemon Fruit Legends, Mythology, and Folklore
In Hindu mythology, the asura or demon Nimbasura was laying waste to the world and was slain by the goddess Shakti after humans prayed for his defeat.
Before he was slain, Nimbusara prayed to Shakambhari, the goddess of nourishment for forgiveness and repentance. Shakambhari granted him a boon and turned him into the first lemon, making him an important part of Hindu ritualistic ceremonies.
