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One day, Narcissus was walking close to a cold mountain pool that mirrored his beautiful Face.
"You are handsome, Narcissus!" he told himself as he bent down to admire his reflection. "There's nobody so handsome in the whole world! I'd love to kiss you."
As he leaned closer to kiss his now reflection he fell into the water, and as he could not swim he drowned. But when the Gods discovered, the most beautiful thing on earth had died, they decided such beauty could not be forgotten. The Gods turned Narcissus into a scented flower which, to this day blossoms in the mountains in spring and which is still called Narcissus.
Narcissus have long narrow leaves and usually white or yellow flowers characterized by a cup shaped or trumpet shaped central crown.
The narcissus is most commonly known as the "daffodil". The name, "Narcissus", comes from a Greek word meaning "to numb". It was given this name because if you are enclosed in a small space with the flower, the scent will induce a headache. Both the Greeks and Egyptians related the flower with death. The Egyptians often hung wreaths of
narcissus during funerals.
In medieval Europe, it was believed that if a daffodil drooped when you looked at it, was an omen of death. The Arabians, however, viewed this flower as an aphrodisiac. It is the national flower of Wales because it blooms on March 1st, the feast day of the patron saint of Wales, St. David.
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