Sunday, May 3, 2009

LOOK FOR PINEAPPLE LION AROUND

For the last two days you have seen a pride of lions. For the Vegans in the audience, I present the second item that people adorn the entrance to their homes with. The ever popular Pineapple. Christopher Columbus brought it back to Europe in 1493. The Spaniards knew they were welcome if a pineapple was placed by the entrance to a village. The symbolism spread to Europe, then to Colonial North America. It has come to symbolize hospitality all over the world. I wonder in lions eat pineapple...

12 comments:

  1. I don't think people raised lions in Ft. Lauderdale, but they did raise pineapples...that area, down through Dania, was at one time pineapple plantations...

    Cute shot!

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's interesting! I didn't know that it was a symbol of hospitality. I don't remember seeing too many of these around here, but maybe I just haven't noticed them before!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't think they do. Never knew about the meaning of the pineapple symbol.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Here pineapples are more stylized, usually without the top leaves, standing in couples on top of pillars at a gate.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I haven't noticed many pineapples around here. I need to pay more attention, I suspect!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful pineapple! Funny post!
    Léia

    ReplyDelete
  7. Aha! So, it's not only in Virginia!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Didn't know the pineapple was a sort of peace greeting. Cool. Though that didn't work out so well for the native peoples that put out a pineapple for the Spanish!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Interesting to learn about pineapple as a sign of hospitality. I'll put one outside my front door for special guests.

    ReplyDelete
  10. 2B, I had no idea that's why pineapples were favored in home decor. Fascinating. Do all Dons sit around Googling stuff up for their blogs?

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love pineapples, both to eat and to adorn with...

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's a universal sign of hospitality. It's also common on banisters.

    ReplyDelete