Abstract
The paper examines Slavic etiological legends on the Flight to Egypt plot. These legends feature trees and bushes growing on the way of Maria’s and Joseph’s flight to Egypt. Some of these plants helped Christ and his parents escape while others betrayed them to the Herod’s army. Virgin Mary endowed the plants with “positive” or “negative” qualities respectively, as either a reward or a sign of damnation. The author analyzes folk legends that were familiar to Eastern, Western, and Southern Slavs; points out which plants were mentioned in the legends and describes the circle of plant symbols; enlists themes, types and motifs of these legends and compares them to other apocryphal legends that had the same source, namely the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew. The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew seemed to be influential mainly in Western Slavia where the main core of etiological legends was recorded.
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