Visit Granada with the kids and look for the Granada Pomegranate

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The symbolism of the pomegranate is the reason they are everywhere in Granada, Spain. Literally everywhere. Look all around you and start to count all the times you see the pomegranate – in signs, on the streets, on the fences. Get the kids in on this activity. They love this type of game!

In Spanish, the word ‘Granada’ means pomegranate so it is easy to see why this fruit is a part of the city. The fruit is also a part of the official heraldic symbol of the city. The French liked the pomegranate, too,  and it reminded them of a small explosive device which they named after it – the grenade.

Pomegranate Symbolism of Christianity

Some say the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden is actually a pomegranate and not an apple.

The Catholic Church considers the pomegranate a symbol of eternal life and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave.

The fruits are often used as decorations in church after the Sunday of Pentecost.

The pomegranate symbolism is strong in the Christian bible and the fruit is mentioned many times. 

Exodus 28: 33-34 The description of the clothes priests were to wear… “Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe.”

Deuteronomy 8:8  The land that God promises….”a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey”

Numbers 13:23 Food found in the Desert of Lin in the Valley of Eshkol ….”When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs.”

I Kings 7: 18, 20 Description of the work done for King Solomon by the craftsman, Huram…”He made pomegranates in two rows encircling each network to decorate the capitals on the top of the pillars. He did the same for each capital. On the capitals of both pillars, above the bowl-shaped part next to each network, were the two hundred pomegranates in rows all around.”

II Chronicles 3:16 Description of part of the temple by King Solomon…”He made interwoven chains and put them on the top of the pillars. He also made a hundred pomegranates and attached them to the chains.”

I Kings 7:42 Description of King Solomon’s temple….” the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network decorating the bowl-shaped capitals on the top of the pillars)”

II Chronicles 4:13 Description of King Solomon’s temple….” the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network decorating the bowl-shaped capitals on the top of the pillars)”

Song of Solomon 4:3  In the description of a beautiful woman…”Your temples behind the veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.”

Song of Songs 7:12 To describe a beautiful place to meet your love, “Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom-”

Joel 1:12 Discussing the despair of farmers..”The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree – all the trees of the field – are dried up. Surely the people’s joy is withered away.”

Symbolism of the Pomegranate

In Ancient Greek Mythology, Persephone was tricked into staying in the underworld because she ate 6 pomegranate seeds.

CLICK HERE – Read Before You Go! Kids’ Books About Spain

Uses for Pomegranate

The pomegranate fruit is delicious which is sweet but also quite tart. Inside the fruit, you’ll find as many as 1200 seeds. The seeds are part of the pomegranate symbolism – they represent life and fertility. The seeds aren’t easy to remove, but this device makes it so much easier!

OverDMoon Pomegranate Deseeder

Grind the pomegranate seeds and use in all sorts of meals. When you grind up the seeds they become the spice anardana used in Persia where the pomegranate was grown originally.

Drink the juice which is considered very healthy. You can buy pomegranate juice at the grocery now as it has become very popular. How healthy is it? Well, the seeds contain more antioxidants than familiar healthy things like green tea and cranberries.

I like the syrup grenadine which is made from the juice of the pomegranate. My favorite martini includes this delicious syrup!

CLICK HERE  – MORE Fantastic Food You’ll Find in Spain Like Paella 

Pomegranate Health benefits

According to research from the University of California, components of pomegranate juice inhibits the movement of cancer cells such as cancer moving from the prostate to the bones.

According to the website, Amazing Pomegranate Health Benefits, pomegranates are good for preventing everything from Alzheimer’s to Kidney stones and are good for increasing fertility and improving diabetes and macular degeneration. WOW.

You’ll see the pomegranate everywhere in Granada! Look for it on signs, on man hole covers on the ground, and on tiles on buildings. See how many you can count during your visit!

If you are visiting Spain with the kids you’ll want to click below and download the Kids’ Travel Activity Guides specific for a family vacation in Spain.

CLICK HERE – Kids’ Travel Activity Guide to Spain

CLICK HERE – Kids’ Travel Activity Guide to the Prado Museum in Madrid

Happy Travels!

Natalie, The Educational Tourist