Acorn

Acorns are the nuts produced by the oak tree (Quercus), a one-seeded nut in a woody cup.Unknown. (1972). "acorn", in Leach, M. (ed) Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend. 3rd ed. p.7
== Botany ==
Acorns usually start appearing when an oak is around twenty years old, and they can take up to three years to mature. 
Many varieties of acorn are edible. 
== Folklore ==
Acorns are generally used in proverbs to symbolise great effort before a perfect achievement. This can be seen in the maxim "Great oaks from little acorns grow". 
There is a German story of a man who made a deal with the devil, and promised to pay him when his first crop was harvested. He then planted acorns. This uses the symbolism discussed above. 
When Celtic druids prepared to give prophecies, they would consume acorns of sacred oak trees. 
According to Achomawi legend, the Sun's wife cooks acorn mush for dinner. 
In Wappo tradition, two legendary boys on a journey found, cooked, and ate acorns. 
In Yurok mythology, Coyote and his grandmother had a famous argument about how to prepare acorns for eating. 
The Natchez people of the southern Mississippi valley have a story about a mythical chief of animals who told all the animals to choose the food they wished to live on, and the squirrel chose the acorn. 
The Luiseños of the southern Californian coast have a story where Wiyot, the first or last-born child of the sky and earth was the guardian of all earthly things, and was thus loved by all save Frog. Frog spat into the spring Wiyot drank from, causing him to die after ten months. Before he died, he taught the creatures of the earth all he knew, and promised that his ashes would become their most valuable possession. From the ashes grew the oak tree, with acorns the size of apples. Crow was then sent by the people to the big star to find Wiyot, but couldn't find him. Hummingbird was then sent, and returned with a message telling the birds and animals to eat acorns, and for men to make acorn flour to use to make cakes. The people then made a feast of acorns. 
== See Also ==
* Coyote and the Acorns
== References ==
Category:Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend
Category:Materials