The Legend of Vitoria Regia

According to one version of the legend, there was once a Tupi-Guarani maiden who was exceptionally beautiful. She lived in a village near the Amazon River and caught the eye of the moon god. The moon god, captivated by her beauty, decided to take her to the sky to be with him.

In the heavens, the moon god transformed the young woman into a star. However, she missed her people and the Earth terribly. To ease her loneliness, the moon god decided to create a reflection of her on the water of the Amazon River. This reflection became the stunning water lily, the Vitória Régia.

The large leaves of the Vitória Régia are said to represent the moon maiden's heart, which, despite being in the sky, remains connected to her people on Earth. The beautiful flowers of the water lily bloom at night, symbolizing the moon maiden's enduring love for her homeland.

The legend of the Vitória Régia is often shared to teach moral lessons and convey the cultural significance of the plant in the Amazonian traditions. The water lily itself is an important symbol in Brazilian culture and is often depicted in art, literature, and folklore as a representation of beauty, purity, and the connection between the earthly and celestial realms.