A welcome winter sight, considered by most peoples as a herald of Spring, with each having their own affectionate name. Many of these names are of a feline nature. Catkins itself originates from the Old Dutch word for kittens: katteken, now katjes in modern Dutch; in Italy they say gattini for little cats, and in France: chatons for kittens. In Norway catkins are called gåsunger or goose chicks. The Welsh name also looks to goslings: cywion gwyddau bac, a name which Google translates literally as “chopped chewing chicks”. The Germans go for sheep: lämmerschwänzchen or lambs’ tails. The Russian name for catkins however, is not an animal epithet: серёжка, meaning an earring. These particualar drooping flower clusters are from the hazel tree.
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