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Frangipanis are used by the Polynesians to make leis to welcome people. My polynesian students tell me that when a woman wears the Frangipani on her ear, you need to be careful. If she wears it over her right ear, she is available. If she wears it over her left ear, you should not flirt with her, otherwise her husband will cop your ear.
If I was younger, I would have a lei ready at the airport in Australia to welcome Prince William. I will also be wearing a Frangipani over my right ear, as the water engineer is in Auckland, too far away to cop Prince's William's ear. LOL
I watch on TV, women as old as me waiting for him in Auckland as though stalking him.
I tell everyone when his parents came to Auckland, I was working at 246 building, at Queen's street. All of us cheeky girls told the boss we were going down the building to see them. The boss said, "OK, just ten minutes." We dashed to the elevator and fought to get in first.
We cheeky girls went down early and disappeared for more than 1/2 hour. The next 1/2 hour when we came up, we gossiped how pretty Di was. There was no work done for the rest of the day. The boss could only say," TSK!TSK!"
I can imagine, this time round the girls of another generation would be wearing the Frangipani over their right ears and have dreamy eyes for the rest of the day.
Perhaps, they could become the future queen of UK, NZ and Oz. Sorry Kate.
12 comments:
I remembered last time the white frangipannis was used as Chinese funeral wreath, trees were applenty then, nowadays they are planted as parks and roadside with different coloured flowers.
Hi have just posted an article on married and unmarried Foochow ladies of yesteryears!
You made me laugh! Thanks.
White franjipannis still a popular flower for graveyards/cemeteries.
Pink ones are rare in Sarawak.
Was reading the news about the Prince's visit. And for maidens still available in your place, it's OK to encourage them to go ahead and wear the flower on their left ears, who knows!
In our place the same plant and flower is called in its local name of "canda." But whatever name it has in different places or country, its bloom which come out always in a bouquet-like formation is always beautiful.
wish i could see prince William too!
I have them at home...in total 6 - 8 trees..cant remember exactly, and in all colours. I'll be wearing them in my ear too..who knows...?
Yes, CNY is round the corner and those CNY music is blasting away :)
What a nice use with this flower !
and what a nice visitor too ! He so much looks like his mother !
PS you can also read your future in tea leaves, but unfortunately I don't know how, lol !
Such a pretty colour of the Frangipani and if the flowers won't do the perfume will!! Happy memories Ann; good on you, did you have a happy time in Australia?
Reminds me of when a woman returns to work for a visit after having a baby. Women come flying from every direction to see the baby and everything come to a halt.
A little reminder that we're still human.
Barry, you are so funny!
Prince William is rather a dish though!!
I saw Princess Diana when her and Prince Charles visited our town. Prince Charles actually held my hand and we chatted. I was 16 at the time and I have never forgotten that day.
A couple of years ago the Queen and Prince Philip visited our town. I was so close to the Queen and I chatted to Prince Philip who is a desperately handsome chap despite his age!!!
Ah...how I wished I was lucky enough to greet either Prince!
My daughter went to school in Singapore, and told me that the Frangipani was called graveyard flower.
I then noticed when I drove past Muslim graveyards in West Malaysia, In deed, there were lots of Frangipanis.
When I was in School, in Sibu, Borneo, just in front of the school, was a Muslim grave yard. May be we too petrified to look properly. We only noticed the head stones were very closed together. Sarawakiana, did you remember?
Upon query, I was told that Muslim's bury their decease vertically. Jama will have to confirm this.
Fast forward a few years, The university the water engineer lectured built new residential blocks, at the entrance to these block, some landscape smart Alec planted Frangipanis on both sides of the stairs. I wasn't alone to wonder why plant a graveyard flower at the residential area.
Fast forward a few years, by then I have left Singapore, some one killed himself in one of the apartments. And another healthy person suddenly died.
Believe it or not?
I did not want to post this info when I wrote about Prince William. But this is a very good piece on different culture.
In Singapore and Malaysia, the Frangipani is known as Graveyard Flower. You see them grown in Muslim cemeteries. The local natives, the Malays believe it is a favourite shelter of ghosts and demons. In Malay folklore, the scent of this flower has often been linked to the vampire.
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