According to folklore, cutting open a persimmon seed will tell you what kind of winter we are going to have. I don’t know if I buy that, but it’s interesting, as far as folklore goes. Apparently, when you cut open a persimmon seed, there will either be the shape of a knife, a spoon, or a fork. What do the shapes mean?
Knife: If the shape inside the seed is that of a knife, it is believed to mean the winter will be cutting cold — so cold the wind feels like its cutting right through you like a knife.
Spoon: When the shape inside the seed looks like a spoon it is said to mean it will be a heavy winter. The spoon represents lots of shoveling.
Fork: The appearance of a fork shape within the seed is believed to mean that winter will be easy with only a light dusty of snow.
So I was out with family today, and we visited Tom Sparks cemetery in Rockridge, near the head of Bradshaw Mountain. It was a beautiful, peaceful cemetery. A large persimmon tree, full of ripe persimmons, dominated one corner of the cemetery. Curious about the folklore, my father cut one of the seeds open. The verdict?
It's a spoon!
It’s a spoon! Thus, it is going to be a winter with heavy snow. At least, according to the persimmon seed. We’ll see!
