Φυτό και καρποί μερσινιάς. © Στάλω Λαζάρου, 2011
An aromatic evergreen shrub with pointed, glossy leaves, sweetscented flowers and small purplish-black ber
Name - Origin
Μυρτιά.
Scientific name: Myrtus communis.
pl. mersínia.
Myrsinokokkon (mersinin+ kokkos - grain) myrtle fruit. The myrtle plant is called mersiniá (Yangoullis K, 2009, p. 281).
Mersinia had to be fetched and prepared before a woman would give birth. First, they would be laid out in the sun or be put in the oven to dry them out; then, they would be pounded in a mortar and pestle or ground using a hand mill. In some villages, they were pounded using a fauta, a special wood that was used to wash clothes; they would pass them through the tatsian (sieve) and the 'powder' would be stored in a bag over the bed to be ready for use. They could add a bit of oil to soften it. (Protopapa K, 2009, pp. 345-350).
Functional and symbolic role
Mersinia that would be used for the baby had to meet certain requirements.They would make sure that it was cut from an area that was clean of any kind of thorns, bushes etc. They would also collect the mersinia when the moon was full, so that the baby would grow up without any problems. They would observe the myrsini branch brought to them for the baby. They believed that the sex of the child depended on it: if it was flat-leaved, they believed that the baby would be a boy and if it was thin-leaved that the baby would be a girl. In order for the baby to grow tall properly, they would try to bring mersinin from a high spot; the child's development would also be affected. They would also refrain from letting an ugly woman see the baby, so as the baby would not become ugly. (Protopapa K, 2009, pp. 345-350).
Additional information and bibliography
Due to its medicinal properties, mersinin was necessary for baby care. It was used as an antiseptic. The fine powder from its leaves would replace the powder. Using mersinia, would provide disinfection and prevent skin rash and skin irritation. This is why mersinin was used on babies on a daily basis. It would also act as a deodorant because of its smell. Some people believed it would make babies dizzy and put them to sleep. Mersinin was also combined with mastic oil to rub the infant. (Protopapa K, 2009, pp. 345-350).
Yangoullis K. G. (2009), Θησαυρός Κυπριακής Διαλέκτου. Ερμηνευτικό, Ετυμολογικό, Φρασεολογικό και Ονοματολογικό Λεξικό της Μεσαιωνικής και Νεότερης Κυπριακής Διαλέκτου, Βιβλιοθήκη Κυπρίων Λαϊκών Ποιητών, Theopress Publications, Nicosia.
Protopapa K. (2009), Τα έθιμα της γέννησης στην παραδοσιακή κοινωνία της Κύπρου, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, XLIX, Nicosia.
Demetra Zannetou, Stalo Lazarou