Persimmon Facts and Folklore — Ruffner Mountain (2024)

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What is the folklore about persimmons? ›

Legends claim that by slicing the ripe fruit's seed open and examining the shape found inside, one of three shapes may be found in the heart of the seed: a fork, a spoon, or a knife. Sliced persimmon seeds from a previous winter showing spoons, the coldest possible prediction.

Persimmons grow in trees that are very tall, sometimes up to 70 feet. It can grow in nearly any type of soil. The persimmon tree can be found in California and the southern region of the east coast. Persimmon is high in vitamin C, A, potassium and fiber.

The persimmon seed may either have a fork, knife, or spoon shape on its inside. The fork is said to stand for a mild winter, while the knife shape means that there will be fridged winds. The spoon shape is supposed to represent a shovel and therefore you could expect plenty of snow in the upcoming winter.

Folklore tells us that if you slice a persimmon seed lengthwise, you will find the image of a spoon, knife or fork. Supposedly, the presence of a knife means we are in for a rough, unsettled winter. A mild winter is predicted by the image of spoon. If a fork is seen, our winter is supposed to be medium to bad.

PERSIMMON PROGNOSTICATING

If you see a spoon shape, there will be a lot of heavy, wet snow to scoop. A fork shape means light, powdery snow and a milder winter. If you see a knife, you can expect to be "cut" by cold, icy, windy weather.

Persimmons carry a rich cultural significance, often associated with luck and prosperity. In many cultures, the fruit is a symbol of perseverance, reflecting a deep understanding of inner strength.

Persimmons are a good source of vitamins A and C as well as manganese, which helps the blood to clot. They also have other antioxidants, which help reduce the risk of many serious health conditions including cancer and stroke. One serving of persimmons contains approximately: Calories: 118.

Persimmon folklore: If you split open a persimmon seed, you can examine the cotyledon, and depending on if it's shaped like a fork, spoon or knife, it can forecast the weather. A fork equals a mild winter. A spoon means get ready to shovel some snow. If you find a knife, winter will be cutting cold.

The common persimmon is rarely grown as a food or ornamental plant. One reason for is that it is extremely slow growing. It takes four to eight years for a tree to bloom for the first time. Then the tree often won't begin producing fruit for another three years.

The biblical persimmon, also known as the Balm of Gilead, was a luxury product in the ancient world. This plant, which is unrelated to the persimmon fruit we know today, was used mainly in the production of perfumes, incense, and medicines.

What is the wives tale of persimmons? ›

Persimmon seeds

Some look to the shape of the interior of a persimmon seed to forecast winter weather. "If it's shaped like a spoon, you're going to get a lot of snow. If it's shaped like a fork, maybe a lighter snow," said Morgan. "If it looks like a knife, it's going to be cutting or very harsh cold temperatures."

The persimmon fruit (or lotus in Greek) is known to many from mythology, since Homer's Odyssey mentions the island of the Lotus Eaters, where those who ate this tasty fruit forgot what was tormenting them and ceased to be motivated to pursue their goals.

In Korea, persimmons are said to protect you from tigers. In the Ozarks they say that cutting open persimmon seeds will reveal the severity of winter. If the kernel on the inside of the seed is shaped like a spoon, you will have a lot of snow to shovel up. If it's shaped like a fork, you will have a light winter.

The persimmon is a unique fruit, often described as astringent or tannic, and it can be a pucker-inducing experience if you bite into one that has not fully ripened. Seriously, an unripe persimmon will make your mouth numb, it is so potently drying and bitter.

They are also a good source of fiber and manganese. If the taste wasn't enough, people should steer clear of unripe persimmons because the tannins, stomach acid and indigestible plant material can form a bezoar: a hard mass that can lead to gastric obstruction and surgery.

The English common name is derived from the Algonquin language, in which the word persimmon means “dried fruit.” Diospyros kaki is the species of persimmon most widely planted throughout the temperate world. The wild trees native to China had fruit that were small, astringent (bitter), and very seedy.

Persimmon seeds

Some look to the shape of the interior of a persimmon seed to forecast winter weather. "If it's shaped like a spoon, you're going to get a lot of snow. If it's shaped like a fork, maybe a lighter snow," said Morgan. "If it looks like a knife, it's going to be cutting or very harsh cold temperatures."

Persimmon is a symbol of good luck in Chinese culture, many designs and shapes are related to persimmon. There have been more researches on persimmon just in the last 20 years.