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Crowfoot and Baldensperger: "The Arabic word 'sabr' carries several meanings, among which are 'patience', 'prickly pear,' 'aloe,' and 'myrrh'."
In the national Palestinian tradition 'sabr' carries associations with the word "sumud" (= steadfastness), indicating the patience of Palestinians to stay on their national land and not to give in to any pressure to leave their country.
The cactus was used to mark the borders of a community, village or home.
SOURCE:
Grace Crowfoot and Louise Baldensperger, From Cedar to Hyssop: A Study in the Folklore of Plants in Palestine, The Sheldon Press, London, 1932.
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