Spanish Moss drapes softly from tree limbs all over South Louisiana. A picture perfect bayou is covered in wispy strands of the grey moss that looks like an old man's beard. Therefore this moss and its fun folklore have become synonymous with our Louisiana Cajun culture.
The back of this card reads:
"On Dit Que (it is said that)
The Legend of the Spanish Moss
Part of Louisiana's spice is the folk lore of our culture. One legend describes how Spanish Moss became so common in our region. According to the legend, an Indian brave and princess lived on the banks of the bayou. When the princess died, she was buried at the base of a live oak tree. The grieving brave hung her long black braids on the tree limb to mark her grave. With time the braids turned grey and the wind carried the strands from tree to tree. All the trees weep to this day-all the way to the Gulf.
Spanish Moss obtains its nutrients from the air. Not a true moss or parasite, its scientific classification is an epiphyte. The harvesting of Spanish Moss in the bayous provided early settlers with a livelihood as it was used as furniture and mattress stuffing. A mixture of Spanish Moss and clay, known as bousilliage, was used in construction."
