The Cyclamen and Persephone’s Tears

In the quiet of the churchyard, cyclamen bloom like small flames against the earth, their petals turned toward the sky. They are flowers of the turning seasons — appearing just when the world seems to be holding its breath between autumn and winter.

In Greek myth, it is said that cyclamen first grew from the tears of Persephone, the goddess who spends half the year in the underworld. When she leaves her mother, Demeter, to return below, the earth grows cold and barren, waiting for her return. Cyclamen mark this moment of farewell. They are a reminder that even as the days grow short, life is only sleeping — the earth is gathering strength for spring.

Their roots, hidden deep beneath the soil, were once used as charms for protection and healing. Some believed the plant had the power to guide the soul between worlds, just as Persephone travels between the living and the dead.

So when the cyclamen appear in the churchyard, they are more than just flowers. They are whispers of the old world, quiet messengers of change, and a promise that the light will return.