Editing Almond (section)

== In culture ==
[[File:Prunus dulcis - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-250.jpg|thumb|1897 illustration<ref>illustration from Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, 1897</ref>]]

The almond is highly revered in some cultures. The tree originated in the Middle East. In the Bible, the almond is mentioned ten times, beginning with [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] 43:11, where it is described as "among the best of fruits". In [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] 17, [[Levi]] is chosen from the other tribes of Israel by [[Aaron's rod]], which brought forth almond flowers. The almond blossom supplied a model for the [[Menorah (Temple)|menorah]] which stood in the [[Holy Temple]], "Three cups, shaped like almond blossoms, were on one branch, with a knob and a flower; and three cups, shaped like almond blossoms, were on the other … on the candlestick itself were four cups, shaped like almond blossoms, with its knobs and flowers" ([[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] 25:33–34; 37:19–20). Many [[Sephardi Jews|Sephardic Jews]] give five almonds to each guest before special occasions like weddings.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 July 2017|title=Jewish Sephardi Wedding Recipes and Traditions|url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/2017/07/13/jewish-sephardi-wedding-recipes-and-traditions/|access-date=2021-03-06|website=My Jewish Learning|language=en-US}}</ref>

Similarly, [[Christian symbolism]] often uses almond branches as a symbol of the [[virgin birth of Jesus]]; paintings and [[icon]]s often include [[Mandorla|almond-shaped haloes]] encircling the [[Christ Child]] and as a symbol of [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Mary]]. The word "luz", which appears in Genesis 30:37, sometimes translated as "[[hazel]]", may actually be derived from the [[Aramaic]] name for almond (Luz), and is translated as such in the [[New International Version]] and other versions of the Bible.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g8YSB2K9d1oC&pg=PA37 |title=The meaning of trees: botany, history, healing, lore|author=Fred Hageneder |page=37|isbn=978-0-8118-4898-5|publisher=Chronicle Books|date=September 2005 }}</ref> The Arabic name for almond is لوز "lauz" or "lūz". In some parts of the Levant and North Africa, it is pronounced "loz", which is very close to its Aramaic origin.

The [[Entrance of the flower]] (''La entrada de la flor'') is an event celebrated on 1 February in [[Torrent, Valencia|Torrent]], Spain, in which the clavarios and members of the Confrerie of the Mother of God deliver a branch of the first-blooming almond-tree to the Virgin.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sena |first1=Laura |title=Fuego y flor de almendro en l'Entrà de Torrent |url=http://www.levante-emv.com/horta/2016/02/02/fuego-flor-almendro-lentra-torrent/1373887.html |date=2 February 2016 |website=levante-emv.com |publisher=Levante |access-date=11 May 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525161925/http://www.levante-emv.com/horta/2016/02/02/fuego-flor-almendro-lentra-torrent/1373887.html |archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>