“Words have meaning but names have power.”
- Author Unknown
The power of a name can be profound, reflecting identity, culture, and meaning. Names can signify heritage, create connections, and shape how we see ourselves and others. The name CERES and each of the names used in the community relect the spiritual, medicinal, and connective elements of food and the history of our land.
CERES is the Roman goddess of argriculture and the harvest and is considered a protector of farmers. She embodies a universal nourishment that permeates everything we touch and are touched by.
CERES also symbolizes women through the various transition of their lives.
There are many pronuciations of CERES. Americans say "see·reez.” Italians say “cheh·rais.” French say “say·rez.”
Regardless of the pronunciation, CERES Chatt Hills is about living deliciously.
STREET NAMES
1) BILLIA CRESCENT (“retail crescent”) A nod to civil rights icon Billye Aaron — the land’s previous owner and the widow of baseball legend Hank Aaron — Billia Crescent takes its name from the Billia tree, a member of the Sapindaceae family known for species that symbolize protection, abundance, and enduring legacy. Like its botanical kin, Billia evokes strength, continuity, and a deep-rooted sense of place
2) AMARANTH LANE (“main drag”) An ancient grain and superfood, amaranth is one of a few plants that boasts a perfect blend of beauty, healing, and nutrition. Amaranth plants have been used by ancient cultures for centuries to signify rebirth and immortality and their flower symbolizes everlasting beauty, love, and life.
3) VERVAIN STREET Known as the 'sacred herb' by the ancient Greeks, vervain or wild verbena is revered for its healing properties. Vervain is considered a force for good believed to ward off evil and negativity and invite divine protection.
4) ANGELICA PLACE Called the “Angel’s herb,” angelica’s sweet flavors are used in food, liqueur, and herbal remedies, and are known to stimulate imagination and inner peace. The flower symbolizes feminine strength, divine guidance, and spiritual protection.
5) DEWBERRY MEWS A cousin to the blackberry, the dewberry symbolizes sweetness in life and community unity. Farmers have long valued dewberries for their extended harvest, using them as natural fences that offer both bounty and barrier.
6) BERGAMOT TERRACE (“the outer loop”) A fragrant citrus, prized in Italy and Spain, bergamot is known for attracting luck, prosperity, and for evoking a sense that you are in your perfect place.
7) THE FROND The leafy part of a fern, the frond symbolizes sincerity, endurance, and peaceful new beginnings, a quiet triumph echoed in the heart of our community park.
8) BUSK PLACE The Green Corn Ceremony or Busk is one of the most sacred rituals of the Southeaster tribes, including the Creek who once inhabited the land. Through fasting, feasting, and forgiveness, Busk celebrated the first corn harvest and honored the deep bonds of community that shaped their way of life.
9) PURSLANE ALLEY Revered and respected as the most nutritious plants on Earth, purslane embodies vitality, resilience, and balance. In herbal folklore, it symbolizes the harmony of opposites and the strength found in lasting unions.