Orange blossoms in Sicily: the legend of zagara and love
What is zagara, the orange blossom of Sicily?
In Sicily, the fragrant blossoms of citrus trees are known as zagara. Orange blossoms have long been linked in popular tradition with weddings, new beginnings and promises of love. A well-known local legend seeks to explain how this association arose.
The royal orange tree and the gardener
The story takes place during the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. A king treasured a beautiful orange tree planted in his castle garden and refused to share even a small branch. An ambassador, enchanted by its fragrance, persuaded the royal gardener to provide a cutting in exchange for fifty gold coins.
The gardener used the money to provide a dowry for his daughter. On her wedding day, she placed a sprig of orange blossom in her hair as a sign of gratitude for the plant that had made her marriage possible. This is a romantic folk tale, not a documented account of a particular royal court.
A flower that became a symbol
Since then, the white and fragrant zagara has been associated with purity, affection and marriage. Its strong presence in Sicily's landscapes and traditional stories connects local nature, family customs and Mediterranean culture.
Original sources and photo credits
- https://magazine.artigianoinfiera.it/fiori-darancio-glossario-artigianato/
- https://www.ilsicilia.it/dolce-come-la-zagara-e-la-via-che-conduce-in-sicilia/
- https://community.matrimonio.com/forum/zagara-fiori-di-arancio--t907658
- http://www.ubaldeschi.it/tacco12ballerine/fiori-di-zagara/
- http://dreamstime.com/
