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Myth and Folklore: Dandelions

© Gregg Pasterick

...even the bane of suburban gardens, Dandelions, have a bit of Myth and Folklore about them. (And ya know what else? Even here, on the southern coast of Washington, among the erstwhile hippies and organic gardeners and chefs-in-training and hippy wanna-bes, Dandelions are looked down upon as baneful, never mind those aren't Dandelions out there at all, but Hairy Cat's-ear. But that's another story for another time.)

Dandelions turn up in the backyards of Myth and Folklore much like they flourish in our backyards. Blowing on the seed heads, for instance, was once a way that revealed the time of day; as many times as it takes to blow all the seeds away is also the time. In other words, if one blows on the seed head three times to blow away all the parachuted little seeds, it is 3:00. A slightly different version of this belief (and practice?) is that the time is determined by how many seeds are left behind after blowing on the seed head three times.

Another three-blow belief is that if a child can blow away all the seeds away in three tries (or less), his mother does not want him at home, but if it takes more than three huffs and puffs, he better get home.

Dandelion down also reveals how much your lover is thinking of you: the more down remaining after blowing once on the seed head, the more you are being thought of. Again, you better get home (nudge, nudge; wink, wink; snicker, snicker). In a somewhat similar vein, to send a message to a loved one, blow at the seed head in his or her direction, visualizing your message as you do so.

In some places, Dandelions have served as weather forecasters. If they do not open in the morning, it will rain. Or, if down flies off the seed heads though there is no wind, it will rain. (Personally, I would think the down flying off a Dandelion in still weather augurs something more sinister than rain.)

There are those who believe that picking a Dandelion, or wearing one, makes a child wet his bed, hence the folk name Piss-a-bed. Other folk names include Blowball, Cankerwort, Doonhead, Dumbledore, Faceclock, Fortune-teller, Milk Gowan, Monk's-head, Swine-snout, and Witch Gowan. The last name, perhaps, relates to the belief that Dandelions gathered on Midsummer's Eve possess the power of repelling witches, not to mention enhanced medicinal properties.

In general, Dandelion's magical powers have included divination,

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