Iris Croatica
Iris Croatica (Perunika), the Croatian national flower and flower of peace, is the emblem of the Mirotvorci association.
A flower in every corner of the world, a flower understood as a symbol of peace among nations
The Lightning of the God Perun
The beautiful iris flower is spread across the entire globe, and since ancient times, it has fascinated people with its delicate beauty. Ancient Egypt revered it as a divine and royal symbol, and in Greek mythology, there is a story about the goddess Iris, who painted the skies with a colorful rainbow, carrying messages from the gods to Earth. Wherever the rainbow touched the ground, a flower would grow, each time in a different color.
This unusual and magnificent flower has also been known in Croatia since ancient times. Its name, Perunika, originates from Slavic mythology, from the Old Slavic god Perun and his wife, the goddess Perunika. According to ancient tales, when the lightning of the god Perun struck the earth, it left behind irises of various colors.
The Kajkavci people knew the goddess Perunika as Ljelja, so they call this flower ljeljuja, while in the Dubrovnik area, this divine flower is called bogiša.
Today, the iris (Perunika) is the Croatian national flower, proclaimed by the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in 2000 at a flower exhibition in Japan. It was promoted then under the slogan: “A flower in every corner of the world, a flower understood as a symbol of peace among nations.” Twelve wild species of iris are widespread throughout Croatia, and Perun has particularly blessed us with an abundance of lightning in the Samobor Hills and the Krka National Park area, where legally protected endemic species grow: Croatian iris (Iris croatica), Illyrian iris (Iris illyrica), and yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus).
The colors of the iris have special symbolism: purple symbolizes wisdom and greetings, blue hope and faith, yellow is a symbol of passion, while white represents purity and innocence. Keep this in mind the next time you give an iris, but be careful not to pick a protected one, as Perun could become very angry.
Fortunately, when lightning strikes, it leaves behind new, beautiful flowers of various colors.