Daisy Day celebrated on January 28 is possibly an offshoot
of an old tradition that took place at the Hook Lighthouse, Wexford, Ireland,
in which daisies were hunted for the New Year.
The daisy, formally known as the Asteraceae or
Compositae, has more than 23,000 varieties. Daisy originates from Old English
which means "day's eye."
Daisies symbolize purity, innocence, virtue,
patience, and simplicity. Conversely, in Norse mythology they mean love,
sensuality, and fertility.
Many varieties of daisies are edible and healthy
when eaten in salads or used to decorate sweet baked goods such as cakes.
Daisies have also been known to contain medicinal
properties. For instance, wild daisy tea can be used for a number of maladies,
including cough, kidney problems, bronchitis, inflammation and problem with the
liver.
