What does the frog symbolize?

Frog is a popular symbol in virtually all cultures of the world, yet its symbolism is not always the same. Most Asian and Latin American countries, for instance, see frogs as bearers of good luck while the Western world sees them as the second of Biblical plagues.

Why is frog symbolism so complex?

Frogs as species are much older than people. They were here before the dinosaurs and despite the fact many frog species became endangered they still have a good chance to outlive us. The main reason for that is their adaptability. As amphibians, they can live in and out of the water with species being able to survive the deadliest deserts or being frozen for many years until the weather changes and they can live on as if nothing happened.

This means frogs are widely seen as a symbol of change.

Is this change for better or worse? Well, this is where the complexity really begins. It can be both because change can always bring good and bad things. The unpleasant look of frogs and their annoying voice definitely doesn't encourage positive thoughts. On the other hand, frogs are mostly found near water which is essential for survival. So seeing a frog after a long journey through the dangers of the woods was obviously good news.

In Japan, for instance, a frog is considered as a protector of the travelers.

Frogs also symbolize transformation. In general, a frog lives in five stages. Each one of them significantly differs from all others. If you are not familiar with them you could easily believe you see completely unrelated animal species.

Marianne Stokes packed her view on The Frog Prince with symbolic meanings.

A nice example of symbolical transformation associated with frogs is one of the most popular classic fairy tales - The Frog Prince. While in this story the princess never kissed the frog, a popular saying claims: you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince.

This saying could be seen from the transformation point of view but it can be understood differently as well. A frog, at first, is far from being attractive. Many people find them even repulsive, disgusting. But when you know them better, you can see their more attractive attributes too. After all, thousands and thousands of people every day choose frogs as pets.

So if you can persist in our search long enough, one day you'll find even a frog attractive. If this is true, everybody can become attractive or at least bearable as a potential partner in private or business life.

One frog can lay several tens of thousands of eggs per season which automatically makes it a symbol of fertility. In some parts of the world, where land is covered with ice for at least a few months per year, frogs hibernate in cold times and suddenly appear 'from nothing' when the land is defrosted. This associates frogs with spring, new life, and rebirth.

Erotic allusions in Ludwig Richter's illustration above are obvious. A frog is often considered a phallic symbol.

Again, there are versions of Sleeping Beauty where the frog tells the queen that she will soon become a mother.

If we think about spring and everything it brings after cold and deadly winter, we should not be surprised to find frogs as symbols of wealth in China, parts of South America, and probably some other areas as well.

Feel free to visit this article about the symbolism and meanings of frogs for even more info on the subject.