Today was a perfect Strawberry Day!  The weather was nice, and I went for a lovely walk outside with my friend Liz snacking on tart juicy strawberries.  It was ideal.

The name Strawberry came from a few different words.  Strewnberry is one of the derivatives, after how the berries are strewn on the plants.  The other is from the words streowberige, streberi lef, and streowberge. The word “streow” in Anglo-Saxon meant hay (the berry was once called “hayberry” too) because it ripened around the season for hay mowing.  They are a member of the Rose family.

Strawberries are not actually berries, nor are they fruit.  They are the enlarged end of the plants stamen, which is why the seeds are all on the outside.  The medicinal benefits of Strawberries include aiding in relief of sunburn, discolored teeth, digestions, and gout.  They are also a common aphrodisiac.

Strawberries were a popular food symbol in Medieval Times.  Having Strawberries on the table was a symbol of prosperity, peace, and perfection.  They weren’t cultivated as a crop though until the Renaissance.  The most popular consumption of Strawberries is probably for Wimbledon.

Strawberries are also native to North America, and popular in many Native American traditions.  A strawberry and cornmeal cake is also an early version of strawberry shortcake.

I also enjoyed a lovely Strawberry frosted cream filled doughnut on this fine day:

(the heart shaped one)