A WELCOMING
PINEAPPLE
What more
fitting silent language symbol to start this blog with than the Princess of
Fruits, the pineapple?
The
pineapple is the symbol of warmth , wealth, welcome, generosity and
hospitality. But how did this unique
fruit become to represent all of that?
When it was
first introduced in Europe in the late fifteenth century the delicious fruit
was a rare commodity. All efforts to
grow it outside of a greenhouse basically failed because of its need for
tropical heat and moisture. Therefore it
was quite expensive to be able to serve this delicacy. This easily covered the
symbolism of wealth.
If you were
truly a welcomed guest to be shown the utmost in hospitality then a pineapple
was set out in your honor and of course eventually was served at a meal while
you were there.
To give one
as a gift was considered the top of generosity.
Of course
not all good hostesses could afford such luxury, yet they wanted to show their
guests they were truly welcome, so soon the pineapple was woven into the
creative arts of the time. Pineapple
quilts, knobs on bedposts and other furniture. Planters and other decorative
pottery were painted with pictures of the pineapple and so the use of this
symbol spread.
It was
portrayed in the stone facades of government buildings, churches and other
public places where the general population was certain to see it.
In homes it
spread to any area guests might be “welcomed” in, fireplace surrounds, screens
and mantels. The knobs on the banisters
in the front hall, on the front door itself or on a transom above the
door.
The people of Scotland had a unique love for the pineapple that was first cultivated there in as early as 1732. Here too they were included in architecture. They seemed to feel the old adage "bigger is better" when incorporating this interesting fruit in their lives.
The Scotsman John Murray, Lord Dunsmore, who was the last colonial governor of Virginia pushed the architecture to unusual limits when he put in the formal gardens at his estate near Airth including a garden house that was a 37 foot tall pineapple.
The people of Scotland had a unique love for the pineapple that was first cultivated there in as early as 1732. Here too they were included in architecture. They seemed to feel the old adage "bigger is better" when incorporating this interesting fruit in their lives.
The Scotsman John Murray, Lord Dunsmore, who was the last colonial governor of Virginia pushed the architecture to unusual limits when he put in the formal gardens at his estate near Airth including a garden house that was a 37 foot tall pineapple.
To this day
it is often found in quilts that adorn beds both abroad and here in the United
States.
On the other
hand if the welcoming pineapple of any sort was removed from the room in which
you were staying it was also a polite way of telling you had over stayed your
welcome and it was time for you to leave.
Here on Jan’s
Wordless Words the pineapple will always be out for you. May you enjoy all that it symbolizes.
Jan who
enjoys knowing the silent languages of the world in OK
