Rainbow Chrysanthemum

by AHONU Aingeal Rose

Title

Rainbow Chrysanthemum

Artist

AHONU Aingeal Rose

Medium

Painting - Watercolor

Description

The chrysanthemum is the official birth flower of November. This watercolor by Ahonu uses a rainbow of colors to embody all the finest qualities of the chrysanthemum into one picture in honor of Aingeal Rose's birthday on the 11th of November (11-11). The gift of a rainbow chrysanthemum is especially significant because all her birth numbers add up to 11 in this year.

The name chrysanthemums is derived from the Greek words "chrysos" meaning gold, and "anthemon" meaning flower. First cultivated in China as early as the 15th century BC, Buddhist monks brought them to Japan in AD 400. The Japanese were so enamored by this beautiful flower that it was soon adopted as the emperor's crest and official seal. "Kiku" is the Japanese name for chrysanthemum. Every year there is a National Chrysanthemum Day which is also referred to as the Festival of Happiness.

Blooming in the fall despite the fast-approaching winter, the chrysanthemum signifies joy and beauty, friendship, well-wishing, longevity, fidelity, joy and optimism. The Buddhists use the chrysanthemum as offerings because of its powerful Yang energy. The chrysanthemum is traditionally offered to the elderly in China as they symbolize long life as well as good luck in the home. In Australia, "mums" are the official flower for Mother's Day, while in Belgium and Austria, the chrysanthemum is used almost exclusively as a memorial flower and is the flower of choice for placing on graves.

Chrysanthemum is an essential ingredient in Chinese cooking. The leaves are used in many sauteed dishes, soups, and salads and the delicate petals are brewed into tea. Chrysanthemums have long been used for their medicinal properties. Drinking chrysanthemum flower tea and taking chrysanthemum vitamins or supplements can provide many health benefits including treating chest pain, reducing high blood pressure, treating diabetes, reducing fever, being an anti-inflammatory agent, and alleviating headaches.

Uploaded

November 8th, 2018

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