Heart of the Gods: The Legend of the Avocado

The legend of the avocado has its roots in the ancient cultures of Mesoamerica, especially the Aztecs and Mayans, who were the first to cultivate the plant.

According to one legend, the avocado (ahuacatl in the Nahuatl language) was a gift from the gods. The Aztecs believed that the avocado had magical properties and brought strength and love to those who ate it. They believed that this fruit was created by the gods to grant people health and longevity.

One version of the myth says that Shochiketzal, the goddess of love and fertility, created the avocado to help people strengthen family bonds and give them the gift of love and understanding. She planted an avocado tree in a sacred garden, and the fruit of the tree became a symbol of love and fertility.

Another legend tells of a young warrior and his lover who could not be together because of a parental prohibition. In desperation, the lovers hid in the forest where they met the spirit of the forest. The spirit gave them an avocado, telling them that this fruit would unite their hearts forever. After they ate the avocado, they turned into one tree with two trunks, symbolizing their eternal love.

These myths and legends reflect the importance of the avocado in ancient cultures and its symbolic association with love, health and fertility.