Turks, in particular, like to plant cypress on graves. Its wood was used for coffins. The Chinese plant cypresses on graves to strengthen the souls of the deceased and prevent the decay of the body. Cypress twigs were worn as a sign of mourning, as Venus did when mourning her lover Adonis . The Muse of Tragedy, Melpomene, wore a crown of cypress.
Greek legend explains the origin of the cypress tree in a story of mourning.
Cyparissos was a boy loved by Apollo. He accidentally killed a favorite stag and died of grief at his mistake. A slightly different legend has Sylvanius instead of Apollo. Cypress tress often grew in sacred groves, and one grove in Titane dedicated to Aesculapius had sacred serpents roving in its shade. Cypress is one of many plants that are considered unlucky if you dream about them.