Poppy Heads

Kolomija (Kolomea), Ukraine | Konica Minolta Dynax 5D.

These last year's poppy heads are remnants of a traditional bouquet that Ukrainians bring home to the Maccabean Martyrs Day on August 14 (August 1, Julian calendar). It's the feast day, іts popular name is "First" or "Honey Saviour" (Медовий Спас — Medovij Spas). On this day, priests bless the water and flowers, especially poppy.

Why exactly poppy? Maccabees (Makavéi) word for the Slavs is consonant with the name of the poppy — mak (мак). That's the folk etymology. :)

These bouquets are usually stored until spring to sow seeds. However, our children became interested in what was inside these capsules. They shook out seeds, they even made holes in one capsule...