Great Journey 🏍 Day 208
The Judas tree. Or maybe we'd better start at the beginning. We hike and slowly I realise that we are on an educational journey. Our little group of hikers hikes and learns. Here about abandoned villages, there about Greek myths and now we get to know the Judas tree.
For days we simply admire its bright purple flowers. Nothing more. The tree is still covered with dried leaves or fruit from last autumn, we don't really care what it's all about. It is the colour that fascinates us. But then we learn the name: Judas tree. "Why is it called that?" I ask the group. Of course, there are answers here too, but they are very different from each other.
So I sit down at home (that is, what is currently our home) and do some research. Legend has it that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from such a tree after betraying Jesus to the Romans.
I see. And why does it have such red-purple blossoms? Another story tells me that the tree then turned red with shame. In addition to this, the rounded leaves, which only form during flowering, can be seen as the pieces of silver paid to Judas for his betrayal.
One tree is ashamed, everyone joins in. Or how?
I am reassured to note that in this case I don't really care about the origin of the name, it should just be in full bloom for as long as possible, this Judas tree.
#judasbaum #manlernnieaus #wandergrüppli
