Editing Date palm (section)

== In culture ==
{{Further|Palm branch (symbol)|Plants in Islam}}

In [[Ancient Rome]], the palm fronds used in [[Roman triumph|triumphal]] processions to symbolize victory were most likely those of ''P.&nbsp;dactylifera''.<ref>{{cite book |author=Ernest Small |url=https://archive.org/details/topfoodplantswor00smal |title=Top 100 Food Plants |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-660-19858-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/topfoodplantswor00smal/page/n250 231] |publisher=NRC Research Press |url-access=limited}}</ref> The date palm was a popular garden plant in Roman [[peristyle]] gardens, though it would not bear fruit in the more temperate climate of Italy.<ref name="Linda Farrar 1998 141">{{cite book |author=Linda Farrar |title=Ancient Roman Gardens |year=1998 |page=141}}</ref> It is recognizable in frescoes from [[Pompeii]] and elsewhere in Italy, including a garden scene from the House of the Wedding of Alexander.<ref name="Linda Farrar 1998 141"/> In later times, traders spread dates around southwest Asia, northern Africa, and Spain. Dates were introduced into California by the Spaniards by 1769, existing by then around [[Mission San Diego de Alcalá]]<!--previous claim of Misión San Ignacio Kadakaamán in 1765 should be looked into-->, and were introduced to Mexico as early as the 16th century.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rivera |first1=D. |last2=Johnson |first2=D. |last3=Delgadillo |first3=J. |last4=Carrillo |first4=M. H. |last5=Obón |first5=C. |last6=Krueger |first6=R. |last7=Alcaraz |first7=F. |last8=Ríos |first8=S. |last9=Carreño |first9=E. |date=2012 |title=Historical evidence of the Spanish introduction of date palm (''Phoenix dactylifera'' L., Arecaceae) into the Americas |url=https://pubag.nal.usda.gov/download/60761/pdf |journal=Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution |volume=60 |issue=4 |pages=1437–1439, 1441–1442, 1444–1445 |doi=10.1007/s10722-012-9932-5 |s2cid=24146736 |access-date=8 May 2022 |archive-date=16 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616052526/https://pubag.nal.usda.gov/download/60761/pdf |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Dates are mentioned more than 50 times in the [[Bible]] and 20 times in the [[Quran]]. Date palms holds great significance in [[Abrahamic religions]]. The tree was heavily cultivated as a food source in [[History of ancient Israel and Judah|ancient Israel]] where [[Judaism]] and subsequently [[Christianity]] developed.<ref name="James Hastings 1909">{{cite book |author=James Hastings |url=https://archive.org/details/jstor-27900187 |title=Dictionary of the Bible |publisher=The Monist |year=1909 |page=675}}</ref> Date palm leaves are used for [[Palm Sunday]] in the Christian religion.

Many Jewish scholars believe that the "honey" reference in Exodus chapter 3 to "a land flowing with milk and honey" is actually a reference to date "honey", and not honey from bees.<ref>[https://outorah.org/p/5705/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304220604/https://outorah.org/p/5705/|date=4 March 2022}}, JEWISH ACTION Magazine, Winter 5765/2005 issue</ref> In the [[Torah]], palm trees are referenced as symbols of prosperity and triumph.<ref>Psalm 92.12</ref> Psalm 92:12 states that "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree." Palm branches occurred as iconography in sculpture ornamenting the [[Second Jewish Temple]] in Jerusalem, on Jewish coins, and in the sculpture of synagogues. They are also used as ornamentation in the [[Feast of the Tabernacles]].<ref name="James Hastings 1909" /> Date palms are one of the [[Seven Species|seven species]] of native Israeli plants revered in Judaism.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cooper |first=John |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/27266322 |title=Eat and be satisfied : a social history of Jewish food |date=1993 |publisher=Jason Aronson |isbn=0-87668-316-2 |location=Northvale, N.J. |oclc=27266322}}</ref> The date palm has historically been considered a symbol of [[Judea (Roman province)|Judea]] and the Jewish people.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/457130327 |title=Jerusalem und die Länder : Ikonographie, Topographie, Theologie ; Festschrift für Max Küchler zum 65. Geburtstag |date=2009 |publisher=Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht |first1=Max |last1=Küchler |first2=Gerd |last2=Theissen |isbn=978-3-525-53390-1 |location=Göttingen |oclc=457130327}}</ref> The leaves are used as a [[lulav]] in the Jewish holiday of [[Sukkot]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Karo |first=Joseph ben Ephraim |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/421411475 |title=The Metsudah Kitzur Shulchan Aruch |date=1999 |publisher=Metsudah Publications |oclc=421411475}}</ref> They are also commonly used as the [[s'chach]] in the construction of a [[sukkah]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=KKL Preparing for Distribution of "Schach" |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/171541 |access-date=2021-03-05 |website=Israel National News |date=24 September 2009 |language=en |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308203445/https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/171541 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the Quran, [[Allah]] instructs ''Maryām'' (the Virgin Mary) to eat dates during labour pains when she gives birth to Isa (Jesus).<ref>The Quran, [http://quran.al-islam.com/Page.aspx?pageid=221&BookID=15&Page=306 Chapter 19 - verses 22-25] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095722/http://quran.al-islam.com/Page.aspx?pageid=221&BookID=15&Page=306 |date=2 April 2015 }}, retrieved on 28 Feb. 2015, ''So she [Virgin Mary] conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. she cried (in her anguish): 'Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!' But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): 'Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree; it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.' ''</ref> In [[Islam]]ic culture, dates and yogurt or milk are traditionally the first foods consumed for [[Iftar]] after the sun has set during [[Ramadan]].

In [[Mandaeism]], the date palm ([[Mandaic language|Mandaic]]: {{Transliteration|myz|sindirka}}, which can refer to both the tree and its fruit<ref name="Secret Adam">{{cite book|last=Drower|first=E. S.|author-link=E. S. Drower|date=1960|title=The secret Adam: a study of Nasoraean gnosis|location=Oxford|publisher=Clarendon Press}}</ref>) symbolizes the [[cosmic tree]] and is often associated with the cosmic wellspring ([[Mandaic language|Mandaic]]: {{Transliteration|myz|aina}}). The date palm, associated with masculinity, and wellspring, associated with femininity, are often mentioned together as heavenly symbols in [[Mandaean texts]].<ref>{{cite book | last=Nasoraia | first=Brikha | title=The Mandaean Rivers Scroll (Diwan Nahrawatha): an analysis | publisher=Routledge | publication-place=London | year=2022 | isbn=978-0-367-33544-1 | oclc=1295213206 | url=https://www.routledge.com/The-Mandaean-Rivers-Scroll-Diwan-Nahrawatha-An-Analysis/Nasoraia/p/book/9780367335441 | access-date=21 October 2022 | archive-date=8 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008012726/https://www.routledge.com/The-Mandaean-Rivers-Scroll-Diwan-Nahrawatha-An-Analysis/Nasoraia/p/book/9780367335441 | url-status=live }}</ref>