For centuries, herbs have been associated with Christian traditions and myths. References to others are abundant in the Scripture. Here are some of the popular Christian legends and myths associated with a variety of plants familiar to home gardeners today.
The plants in this index are mentioned in the Bible or have found their way into Christian tradition. A few are included for their ease of growing and their usefulness.
Agrimony (hemp) was also known as “holy rope” because it was named after the rope with which the Savior was bound.
Almonds — In Numbers 17:8, we read that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness and found that the rod of Aaron had budded, bloomed, and yielded almonds. This rod was said to have reached Rome, where it became the staff of the Pope. In the Tannhäuser legend, it became the symbol of forgiveness when it miraculously greened. Almonds have grown abundantly in the Holy Land since biblical times and were used as models for decoration on the candlesticks in the Temple, as well as on currency during the time of the Maccabees.
Angelica — The plant was originally associated with a pagan festival, but after the introduction of Christianity it became associated with the festival of the Annunciation. According to one legend, angelica was revealed by an angel in a dream to cure the plague. Another explanation of the name is that it blooms on the day of St. Michael the Archangel (old calendar) and thus is a preservative against evil spirits and witchcraft. It was held in such esteem that it was called the “root of the Holy Ghost.”
Anise is mentioned in Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees (Matt 23:23) (although many scholars believe that the word should have been translated as dill, rather than anise). It was a favorite of many in biblical times for its strong licorice flavor; later, during the plagues of the Middle Ages, it was used as a disinfectant. It has also been used as a remedy for indigestion and to sweeten the breath. Recently scientists have discovered that its distinctive odor is a good additive to perfume, as it holds an attraction for many men. A few years ago when traveling on the West Coast above San Francisco, I was startled to see wild anise growing abundantly along the highway.
Apples were central and northern Europe’s most important cultivated crop at the time of the discovery of America. Early in the settlement of this country, the Pilgrims planted apple trees on an island in Boston harbor, as did the Dutch in New York and Jesuit missionaries passing through the valley of the St. Lawrence River.
Avens — (Geum urbanum, herb bennet, wild rye, goldy star) — Called the “blessed herb” because it was worn as an amulet to ward off evil spirits. An herbal printed in 1491 states, “Where the root is in the house, Satan can do nothing and flies from it.” The original name may have been St. Benedict’s Herb, from the legend of the time a monk presented the saint with a goblet of poisoned wine that, after being blessed by the saint, shattered. In medieval days, the plant’s graceful trefoil leaf and the five golden petals of the flowers symbolized the Holy Trinity and the five wounds of Our Lord.
Balm (lemon balm) — A spirit of balm combined with lemon peel, nutmeg, and angelica root enjoyed a great reputation under the name of Carmelite water, probably after the convent where it was first used extensively. The water was deemed useful to cure nervous headaches and neuralgic afflictions.
Barberry — Among the Italians, the barberry bears the name of holy thorn, because it is thought to have formed part of the crown of thorns made for Our Savior. There is another superstition that the crown was made of buckthorn. Yet another tradition held the hawthorn tree as the bush which furnished the Crown of Thorns.
Basil — Legend tells that St. Helen had a vision in which she learned that she could find the true cross in a place where the air was sweet with perfume. She is said to have discovered it in a patch of basil. The reputation of this plant has alternated between good and bad for centuries. It was once associated with a legendary reptile called the basilisk, whose look or breath could kill you — but it was also known as a symbol of love and a protection against witches. Medicinally, it helps prevent flatulence, and most cooks count it as a staple. The common or sweet basil, purple basil, cinnamon basil, and lemon basil are all excellent for herbal butters and vinegars.
Bay — David mentions the bay tree in Psalm 37; in the time of the Greeks and Romans, it was called laurel and its leaves were awarded to the victors in the Olympic Games and to heroes returning from war. From their word for laurel berry (bacca lauri) comes our word “baccalaureate.” Early herbalists said the leaves soothed in baths, gave strength in potions, and —tucked behind the ear— kept one sober. It was valued in the Middle Ages as a charm against witches and devils. The leaves of this evergreen were used to ornament churches well into the last century, especially at Christmas time. The bay laurel can be grown in a pot for many years as, in American gardens, it is more of a shrub than a tree. Wreaths made of the leaves sweeten and freshen the air in your home, and the leaves are used in many popular recipes.
Bedstraw, Lady’s (Galium verum), also known as Our Lady’s bedstraw or cheese rennet. This plant, by Christian legend, was one of the cradle herbs, or plants that were in the hay at the manger in Bethlehem. It was used in stuffing beds or mattresses in Europe.
Betony (Stachys betonica or Betonica officinalis) was cultivated in the physic gardens of the apothecaries and the monasteries because it was considered throughout the centuries as a panacea for all ills. In addition to its medical powers, it was endowed in the popular mind with power against evil spirits and so was planted in churchyards and hung about the neck. According to Erasmus, it “sanctified those that carried it about them” and was also “good against fearful visions” and an efficacious means of “driving away devils and despair.”
Blackberries have grown wild in the temperate regions from earliest times, and have appeared in many legends. Possibly Moses’ burning bush was a blackberry bush. Some legends hold that Christ’s crown of thorns may have come from the blackberry, and that’s why the devil hates blackberries.
Borage was sometimes called herb-of-gladness. According to Pliny, borage in wine drove away sadness and sorrow and brought courage. Therefore, Crusaders leaving for the wars were given a stirrup cup with borage leaves floating in it. Bracken (Pteris aquilina) is sometimes called brake or female fern. The minute spores of this fern were reputed to confer invisibility on their possessor if gathered at the only time when they were said to be visible, i.e., on St. John’s Eve at the precise moment at which the saint was born.
Broom (Cytisus scoparius) by an old tradition was cursed by the Virgin when the Holy Family were fleeing into Egypt, because the crackling of their ripe pods risked drawing attention of the soldiers of Herod. The bad connotations of the plant apparently disappeared, however, because the flowering tops were used later for house decorations at the Whitsuntide festival. The plant was much used in heraldry. A prince of Anjou assassinated his brother and seized his kingdom, but after being overcome by remorse he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, in expiation. Every night of his journey, he scourged himself with a brush made of this plant, and adopted it as his badge in perpetual memory of his repentance. St. Louis of France continued the use of this token, and founded a special order that wore a collar containing this flower along with the motto Exaltat humiles (“He exalteth the lowly”).
Carob is colloquially known as “St. John’s bread,” in the belief that it was the “locust” recorded in the Bible as being eaten by John the Baptist in the wilderness. Actually, it is the pod, and not the seed, of the tree that is ground into a powder and used as a more wholesome substitute for chocolate. It also probably corresponds with the husks of the Prodigal Son parable. The seed is said to have been the original jewelers’ carat weight.
Chervil has a long-standing medical reputation. Because of its reputed rejuvenating qualities, the herb came to symbolize resurrection and new life. In parts of Europe a soup made of chervil is eaten on Holy Thursday in commemoration of the resurrection.
Chestnuts, in Christian symbolism, denote chastity. In Tuscany, they were eaten on St. Simon’s Day and on the Feast of St. Martin, when they were also distributed to the poor.
Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) — The legend of the Christmas rose tells that an angel’s wings swept the ground in order to provide a gift for a poor girl, who was weeping because she had no gift to place beside those brought by the shepherds to the manger at Bethlehem.
Clary (Salvia verbenaca) was sometimes known as Oculus Christi, or Christ’s Eye, because of its use in clearing eyesight. The seeds, when moistened, produce a soft, tasteless mucilage and this was put into the eye to remove dust or other obstructions.
Coriander — When the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness, God fed them manna, which “was like coriander seed” (Ex 16:31). Only the seeds of this annual are called coriander; the leaves of the plant are known as cilantro and are much used in Mexican and some Oriental cuisines.
Cowslip (Primula veris) is commonly called herb Peter or Our Lady’s keys in Europe. The pendent flowers of the plant suggest a bunch of keys, the emblem of St. Peter. In Norse mythology, the flower was dedicated to Freya, the Key Virgin, and in northern Europe the idea of dedication to the goddess was transferred to the Virgin Mary. Cowslip flowers have been used to make wine and in a number of home remedies, one of which prompted an old herbal writer to remark with some disdain, “Some women we find, sprinkle ye floures of cowslip w’ whyte wine and after still it and wash their faces w’ that water to drive wrinkles away and to make them fayre in the eyes of the worlde rather than in the eyes of God, Whom they are not afrayd to offend.”
Cumin — In Isaiah, cumin is one of the herbs mentioned in the lesson of the ploughman (28:25). In the New Testament, Jesus mentions it as one of the herbs the scribes and Pharisees paid tithes on, along with mint and anise (Matt 23:23). The spicy seed of this annual is used in curry powder and for flavoring chili and stew.
Dandelion, so common in America, was called “priest’s crown” in the Middle Ages. When all the puffy white seeds have floated away, all that remains is the disk on which they were placed which resembled, to the common man of the Middle Ages, the shorn head of the priest.
Dill, also mentioned in Matthew, is an easy herb to grow and a favorite with good cooks everywhere. City dwellers can grow this herb in large clay pots on the patio. Although best known today in its flavoring of pickles, a side dish that came to America from Germany, dill was known and used medicinally by the Egyptians over 5,000 years ago. Its name comes from the Old Norse word dilla, which means “to lull,” and dill was used as “gripe wate” to relieve digestive discomfort. It was also used as a cure for hiccups. Today’s uses are primarily culinary, and dill mixes well with vinegar, egg, and potato dishes.
Elder (Sambucus nigra): It was a common mediaeval belief that Judas was hanged on an elder tree. In the “Vision of Piers Plowman,” written in the middle of the fourteenth century, Langland writes: “Judas he japed with Jewen silver/ And sithen an eller hanged hymselve.” Another old tradition was that the Cross of Calvary was made of it, although an equally prevalent English tradition holds that the cross was formed of boxwood.
“Bour tree-Bour tree: crooked rong Never straight and never strong; Ever bush and never tree Since our Lord was nailed on thee.”
Because of these old traditions, the elder became the emblem of sorrow and death, and a host of superstitious fancies grew up about the tree in all parts of Europe. In Russia, the trees were believed to drive away evil spirits; the Bohemians used it to take away fever. Sicilians kept sticks of the wood to kill serpents and drive away robbers. In England, a twig of it tied into at least three knots and carried in the pocket was a charm against rheumatism. A cross of elder was hung on the stables to protect the animals from all evil. An elder bush trimmed into the form of a cross was planted on a new-made grave, and if it blossomed, the soul of the person lying beneath it is happy. Green branches were also buried in the grave to protect the dead from witches and evil spirits, and in some parts it was customary for the hearse driver to carry a whip made of elder wood. Another old tradition advised that on Bertha Night (January 6), the devil goes about with special virulence, so persons are recommended to remain inside a circle of elderberries gathered on St. John’s night.
Jew’s Ears is a large fungus often found on the elder (Hirneola auricula Judar). The name is a corruption of “Judas’s ear.” The purplish fungus was used medicinally and is edible. In spite of its sad and sorrowful legends, the elder is a very useful plant. It was used medicinally and for making wine and jelly. Elderflower water was a common toilet article thought to keep the skin fair and remove freckles and pimples. It was used, mixed with peppermint, as a cure for influenza. During World War I, elderflower ointment was used on wounded horses. Additionally, elderflowers were used in much delicate cookery in England and were added to the posset of the Christening feast.
Elecampane (Inula helenium), also known as wild sunflower or velvet dock, was familiar to the ancient writers on agriculture and natural history. In the beginning of the seventh century, St. Isidore, a great scholar and botanist, named it Inula; it was known in the countryside or by the common name of Alam. Greatly esteemed by the monks as a cordial, it was considered to help digestion, cause mirth, fasten the teeth, and cure sciatica. It was also candied and eaten as a sweetmeat, and in eighteenth-century London was mixed with sugar as a remedy for asthma, whooping cough, and piles. In the United States, it was used for diseases of the skin.
Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) — The poet Milton relates how the Archangel Michael ministered to Adam after the fall
“ . . . to nobler sights Michael from Adam’s eyes the film removed, Then purged with euphrasine and rue His visual orbs, for he had much to see.”
Fennel — This herb, together with St. John’s Wort and other herbs, was hung over doors on Midsummer’s Eve to warn off evil spirits. It was also used as a condiment to the salt fish that was so often consumed during Lent because of its carminative, or digestion-stimulating, properties.
Fig — The sycamore fig (Ficus sycamorus), a popular shade tree in Egypt and Syria, bears an edible fruit similar to the common fig. In the sacred dramas of the Middle Ages, the tree was used to represent the fig tree into which Zacchaeus climbed and that in which by an old legend the Virgin Mary on her journey into Egypt had hidden herself and the infant Jesus. Figs are one of the most ancient fruits and fossil figs have been dated to 65 million years ago. There are many references to figs in the Bible, the most familiar being Adam and Eve sewing fig leaves together for clothing. Two hundred cakes of figs were included in the presents that Abigail offered David. St. Augustine was sitting beneath a fig tree wrestling with some doubts about statements in the Scriptures when he heard the tree speak to him in a child’s voice instructing him to read again. He did, and came to believe.
Filbert — The name of the popular filbert nut is the corruption of the name of a Norman saint, Philibert, whose saint’s day coincided with the time the nuts ripen.
Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is today more commonly known as linseed. Its cultivation goes back to remote history, and the fine linen mentioned in the Bible has been proven to have been spun from flax. The knowledge of spinning this linen extends back into Old Testament times, and in New Testament times it formed the clothing of the Savior in the tomb where Joseph of Arimathaea laid Him.
In Prov 31:13, the valiant woman who provides for her family has sought wool and flax and made them into cloth by her own handwork. The bright blue flowers and blue-green leaves of flax add a colorful note to the herb garden.
Garlic (Allium sativum) — While they were wandering in the desert, the Israelites recalled the savor of some of their favorite foods, including meat, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic (Num 11:5). Today, there are many varieties of garlic and it is a favorite of cooks in almost every nation. This slow-growing perennial is easy to grow.
eparate the bulb into cloves and plant pointed end up, just deep enough in the soil to cover the tops. Apartment dwellers can grow garlic in a pot. When the flavor of garlic is wanted, simply cut and chop one of the leaves, adding it to your recipe for a delicate flavor. When grown outside, the entire plant is dug up to harvest the bulbs.
The legend of this most popular herb comes from the Mohammedan, rather than the Christian, tradition. When Satan stepped out from the Garden of Eden after the fall of man, garlic sprang up from the spot where he placed his left foot and onion from that where his right foot touched. The plant was one of the main ingredients of “four thieves vinegar,” which was used in France as a protection against the plague of 1722. The vinegar originated with four thieves who confessed that while protected by the liberal use of this aromatic vinegar during the plague, they plundered the dead bodies of the plague victims with complete security.
During an outbreak of infectious fever in London in the early 1800s, the French priests who constantly used garlic in their food visited the worst cases with impunity, while the English clergymen caught the infection easily. Medical research since the 1920s has shown that garlic does have significant antibiotic activity. Additionally, garlic may help to prevent cardiovascular disease as it aids in reducing cholesterol, preventing blood clots, and lowering blood pressure. One of the smaller alliums, or garlics, called ajo macho, is revered by Hispanics of the New World as a good luck charm said to increase financial prospects; an old legend says it was found growing at Calvary.
Ginger — This is another plant easy to grow from grocery-store stock. Buy a plump piece of ginger root in the produce department and plant in a large pot or bucket of sand. Beautiful tall leaves will shoot up and within a few weeks the root will begin to enlarge. When you need a piece of ginger for cooking a special dish, dig down around the root and slice off a piece for kitchen use. Peelings and leftovers can be dried for use in potpourri. Chew a piece of the root to soothe a sore throat.
Gourds have been symbolic in many religions. It was the primal egg of the Hindus. The Hebrews saw that Jonah’s gourd, “which came up in a night and perished in a night,” taught him compassion. Gourds were used to point the moral of rapid growth and quick decay, and they illustrate many religious emblems. In Christian symbolism, a gourd is the attribute of Christ, St. James, and the Archangel Raphael. The Holy Child of the Atocha is always pictured with a water gourd from which he dispensed an unending stream of water to the prisoners of the Moors.
Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) is commonly known as goatweed, herb gerard, pigweed, bishopsweed, or ground elder. It was called bishops-weed and bishopswort because it was frequently found near old ecclesiastical ruins. The monks of the Middle Ages cultivated it as a healing herb. It was called herb gerard because it was dedicated to the saint who was often invoked to cure the gout, against which the herb was chiefly employed.
Grape — The grape is one of the oldest cultivated plants, and fossilized grape leaves about 70 million years old have been discovered. Grapes were the vines that Adam, Eve, and Noah planted. In the Bible we read that the Israelites sent spies to report on the promised land of Canaan; they returned with the legendary bunch of eschol that needed two men to carry it. The surprised Israelites, used to small Egyptian grapes, were pleased to find such largesse in the barren and sandy desert. Moses exempted vineyard planters from military service and wrote a law prohibiting pruning and harvesting of vines in sabbatical years. There was a vine sculpted from gold and grapes made from precious stones on the eastern wall of the old temple in Jerusalem, and the grape went on to become one of the most important symbols of Christianity. Jesus said, “I am the true vine and my father is the husbandman.” Vines decorated the catacombs.
Because wine is used in the sacrament of Communion, monasteries in many countries have always played an important part in grape growing. Grapes were among the first cultivated crops planted by the Franciscan and Jesuit fathers in New Spain. The early missions in California were active grape producers, and almost all of the Rio Grande Valley was planted to vineyards by the middle of the 1800s.
Heartsease (Viola tricolor), or wild pansy, is called Herba Trinitatis in many old herbals. Old writers dedicated this delicate little flower to the Trinity because each flower had three colors in it.
Holly (Ilex aquifolium) — A Christmas favorite, legends regarding the holly abound both in pagan and Christian literature. From very early days in the history of the British islands, holly was gathered in great quantities for Yuletide decorations, both in the Church and in homes, and the old carols are full of allusions to it. The Romans sent boughs of holly with other gifts to their friends during the Saturnalia, a custom the early Christians adopted. A later edict forbade Christians to decorate their houses at Christmas with green boughs at the same time as the pagan celebrations. Old Church calendars mark Christmas Eve templa exornantur (churches are decked) and evergreens, especially holly, seem to have survived early prohibitions as customary Christmas decorations. An old legend declared that holly sprang up in the footsteps of Christ when He trod the earth and the thorny leaves and scarlet berries, the color of blood, came to symbolize Christ’s sufferings. From this, the plant is often called “Christ’s Thorn” in northern countries of Europe.
Hyssop — According to Jewish ritual law, things defiled were purified by sprinkling water from a bunch of hyssop (Ps 51:9). The hyssop of Bible times was Origanum syriacum; the hyssop used in today’s gardens belongs to the mint family. It is used in cooking and in making cologne. The attractive evergreen plant is often used as a border. Iris (Pseudacorus), Fleur de Lis — Early in the sixth century, the Frankish King Clovis, faced with defeat in battle, was induced to pray for victory to the God of his Christian wife Clothilde. He conquered, became a Christian, and replaced the three toads on his banner with three irises, because the iris was known as the Virgin’s flower.
Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) — In the Middle Ages, this plant, like so many others, became associated with the Virgin Mary. The lobes of the leaves seemed to resemble the scalloped edges of a mantle.
Lavender — All the ancients loved and used lavender. During the Middle Ages, it became associated with the Virgin Mary and represented her purity and virtue. Lavender was burned on the great bonfires of Europe kindled on St. John’s Eve to drive away evil spirits.
Leeks — In 640, there was a battle between the Welsh and the Saxons. St. David advised the Welsh to pick some leeks from a nearby garden and wear them in their caps so that they would be able to identify each other. The Welsh won a great victory and ever since have worn leeks in their caps on St. David’s Day, March 1.
Lettuce — The slang use of the word “lettuce” to mean “money” may go back to a story told about Pope Sixtus V, who once sent a salad to an impoverished lawyer friend of his. The man had determined to ask the pope for aid, but fell ill on the way. Sixtus sent word that he would send a salad that would cure him and dispatched a messenger with a basket of lettuce. When the lawyer opened the heads, he found them filled with money.
Lily of the Valley, also called Mary’s tears, along with roses, sweet flag, sweet woodruff, boxwood, and broom, as well as other white flowers, were made into garlands on Whitsunday in England. The young people made the garlands, carried them through the streets of the village, and laid them on the altar in the church.
Madonna lily — In the early days of the Church, this flower was dedicated to the Madonna, probably because its delicate whiteness was considered a symbol of purity. It is traditionally used in Europe in the celebrations of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin.
Maidenhair fern — The plant known in old Iceland as “Freyje’s hair” became known as Our Lady’s hair and Maria’s fern. Its scientific name indicates that in ancient times it was dedicated to Venus.
Mandrake — Magical and mysterious properties have always been attributed to the mandrake, and fantastic tales have been told of the dangers of obtaining the root. Some scholars today believe that the vinegar offered to Christ on the cross was actually mandragora wine. A pain-killing drink of mandragora was often given to those who were to be crucified. This Roman wine, whose ingredients included both mandragora and myrrh, was known as morion, or “death wine.” During the Middle Ages, monks used mandragora wine as an anesthetic. When St. Benedict amputated the leg of Emperor Henry II, he placed the emperor on a pillow containing mandragora to relieve the pain of the operation. By the thirteenth century, the plant became more popular as an aphrodisiac than as an anesthetic, and the best plants for this use were supposed to be gathered from the grave of an innocent man hanged for rape. In the writings of Hildegard of Bingen, she mentions that depression and lovesickness are helped by mandrake.
One of the accusations of witchcraft alleged at the trial of Joan of Arc was that she possessed a mandrake root that she carried close to her. In some countries the best time to gather this root was on the Feast of St. John the Baptist. St. Thomas More described a strange glowing light the root was supposed to give off at night: “Such rank and deadly lustre dwells, / As in those hellish fires that light / The mandrake’s charnel leaves at night.”
Marjoram, Sweet Marjoram — On St. Luke’s Day, single women were advised to mix marjoram, marigolds, thyme, and a little wormwood with honey and vinegar. They then were to anoint themselves with this mixture when they went to bed and repeat the following lines in order to dream of their future husband: “St. Luke, St. Luke, be kind to me/ In dreams let me my true love see.” Marjoram was also associated with death, and a good growth of this plant on a grave meant the soul of the person there was at rest.
Marigold — This is also called “Mary’s Gold.” This is said to be because of the golden color of the flowers and the fact that they were used to adorn Marian altars.
Marsh marigold — This plant was “Christianized” and dedicated to the Virgin Mary during the Middle Ages. Originally, it was one of the plants hung above the doors by the pagans as a good luck charm and was woven into wreaths by the worshippers of Baal.
Mint was one of the herbs grown in Britain by the Romans, but with the decay of the Empire it fell out of use for a time. The Crusaders discovered it again and brought it home to Europe, where it found a multitude of uses. Today’s mint-flavored toothpaste is not something new — it was used in Europe several hundred years ago to rub on teeth to whiten and brighten them. Spearmint, peppermint, and some of the more exotic mints such as orange or chocolate mint are all easily grown. The mints like water, so a good place for them is near the water faucet. Teas made from these mints help to settle a stomach and, added to other teas, make a refreshing drink. Boil a generous handful of the leaves of any of these mints in two quarts of water to use as an addition to fruit punch for a party. In a one-gallon glass jar, place a handful of mint leaves and two or three tea bags. Set the jar in a sunny place for several hours to make delicious mint flavored sun tea. There are many varieties of mint, several common in Palestine. Many botanists agree that the mint referred to in the New Testament (Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42) is horsemint.
Milk thistle — There is a tradition that the milk-white veins of the leaves of this plant originated in the milk of the Virgin, which once fell upon a plant of the thistle. Hence it was called Our Lady’s thistle, and the Latin name has the same derivation. The Carline thistle is so named because when a horrible pestilence broke out in the army of Charlemagne, in answer to prayer he had a dream in which an angel shot an arrow from a crossbow and told the pious emperor to mark the plant on which it fell, for with that plant he might cure his army of the pestilence. The herb so miraculously indicated was the thistle, which does appear to have medicinal qualities very like those of elecampane and can be used as an antiseptic.
Mugwort — This plant was called St. John’s plant in the Middle Ages because it was believed that St. John the Baptist wore a girdle of it in the wilderness. On his feast, girls made a crown from its sprays and wore it to prevent evil possession. Gathered on St. John’s Eve, it protected against disease and misfortunes all year.
Mustard — In the parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32) Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed, pointing out that from such a tiny seed a large plant would grow. Ordinary black mustard is an annual that grows to three or four feet in height. Young, tender leaves can be eaten in salads and stir-fry recipes. In many places in the South, people boil and eat the large leaves. The condiment mustard is made from the seeds.
Olive — The olive is the emblem of peace, its branch carried by the dove, and linked with the rescue of Noah and his family on Mount Ararat. When Adam died, three olive seeds were placed in his mouth and from them grew a cypress, a cedar, and an olive tree. Moses’ tears kept the trees alive for the 40 years in the wilderness, and eventually they grew into a single tree, under which King David wept for his sins. The tree was preserved by Solomon as a relic in his famous Temple. Olive oil was used to light holy lamps in tabernacles, as mentioned in Ex 27:20, and as a base for expensive perfumes. In depicting the Annunciation, early painters represented the Angel Gabriel carrying either a scepter or a spray of olive. Later, artists changed the olive to a spray of Madonna lilies. In some parts of Italy, an olive branch is still hung above the door of a new house to keep the devil out.
Oregano — Will the real oregano please stand up? A number of plants go by the names oregano and marjoram. Try the one advised as the easiest to grow in your area. All are prolific and, like their cousins the mints, will take over where you let them. Any of these plants is useful in cooking. Use fresh or dry in pizza or pasta sauces. After the leaves are harvested, save the stems to throw on a barbecue fire. We also use our prolific oregano as one of the mainstays of our herbal pillows and potpourris, as well as in herbal vinegars.
Parsley — Parsley was used by the Greeks to crown victors at the Isthmian Games and to decorate tombs. Wild parsley grew abundantly in the biblical lands and was one of the first herbs to be cultivated. It was a sign of victory and achievement. The ancient Roman athletes wore crowns woven of it. St. Paul refers to this “corruptible crown” in 1 Cor 9:25. It was known as one of the sacred funeral plants to the ancient Greeks and Romans. It was placed on graves and served at funeral banquets. Later, the plant was consecrated to St. Peter in his role as heavenly gatekeeper. Good Friday was considered a day of mourning for European Christians and little household activity was conducted. It was, however, the day to plant parsley after returning from church. The slow germination of this plant, according to legend, was due to the necessity for the seed to descend to hell at least three times before it sprouted. Others said it had to go to the Devil and back nine times, and since the Devil liked it as well as everyone else, he kept a little each time, and that is why it appeared so spottily when it did finally come up.
Pennyroyal — Housewives and dogs love this low-growing member of the mint family . . . because mice, fleas, ants, and flies don’t. This spreading herb can be planted in the yard in several places to help repel pests. Its dried leaves make an interesting additive to herb pillows. Although used for culinary purposes in some cultures, and medicinally in some others, pennyroyal should definitely not be taken by pregnant women or anyone with kidney problems.
Passion flower — This plant was so-named because of the supposed resemblance of the finely cut corona in the center of the blossoms to the Crown of Thorns and of the other parts of the flower to the instruments of the Passion of Our Lord.
Potatoes — The Spaniards discovered potatoes in the Peruvian Andes in the early part of the sixteenth century. One of Pizarro’s priests is credited with bringing the potato to Spain, even though Columbus is sometimes mentioned. (It was the sweet potato, not the white one, Columbus found in the West Indies.) Most Europeans at first thought them to be poisonous and were very slow to accept them as a food item. Many people also shunned them because they were not mentioned in the Bible. In particular, the Scots refused to eat them as late as 1728. The Irish found a way around this by planting them on Good Friday and sprinkling the soil liberally with holy water. Potatoes became lifesavers during the famines in France in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Parmentier, a great friend of the court, wanted to encourage the peasants to use potatoes. To that end, Marie Antoinette wore potato blossoms in her hair and King Louis XVI wore one on his lapel. The fields outside Paris were planted with potatoes and then heavily guarded so as to show that something valuable was growing there. The ruse worked, and the peasants raided the fields.
Poinsettia — A charming Mexican legend tells that a poor little boy went to church on Christmas Eve, sad because he had no gift for the Holy Child. He knelt outside the church and prayed fervently, telling the Christ Child that he dared not approach with empty hands. When he stood, at his feet he saw a beautiful green plant with dazzling red blooms, as if in answer to his prayers. Taking the beautiful flowers, he joyously entered the church with his gift. Redbud — Because of its attractive flowers, many persons know the redbud as a cultivated shrub or small tree over most of temperate North America. It is sometimes called the Judas tree. This name comes from the legend that it was on a near eastern tree of this type that Judas hanged himself, and that its flowers at the time were white but turned color with shame and have blushed ever since.
Rest harrow (wild licorice) — One tradition says that this was the plant from which the crown of thorns was plaited. Roses, along with lilies, are the two most representative flowers of the Virgin Mary, and legends concerning them abound. One old legend relates that St. Thomas, not believing the reports about the assumption of the Virgin, had her tomb opened. Inside, instead of her body, he found the tomb to be filled with lilies and roses. Roses today are also associated with St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, because of her promise to send a “shower of roses” from heaven. Roses are useful in medicines and cooking as well as for their beauty. A number of beautiful and interesting miniature varieties have been developed so even apartment dwellers can grow roses. Rose “hips,” or fruits, are a good source of vitamins. Rose petals can be made into jellies or syrups, and are the basis for most potpourris. Keep a box on top of your refrigerator and as each rose finishes its bloom, put it in the box to dry for use in making potpourri.
Rosemary is one of the best-loved herbs worldwide and is a symbol of love and fidelity, often having been worn at weddings. St. Thomas More wrote that he let this herb run wild all over his garden because his bees loved it, and also because it was a flower of memory and friendship. He also pointed out that it was the chosen emblem of English funeral wakes and burial grounds. In France, it was carried by mourners at funerals and thrown into the open grave on the coffin. The Spaniards revere the plant as one of the bushes that gave shelter to the Virgin Mary on the flight to Egypt, and both in Spain and Italy it was considered a safeguard against witches and evil spirits. It is also said that the Virgin dried her cloak on the plant, imparting the color of the sky to the flowers. One old legend compares the growth of the rosemary with the height of the Savior, and declares that after 33 years the plant may increase in breadth but will not increase in height. The traditional European Easter meal is still lamb, flavored with the fragrant herb.
The plant’s association with Mary gave it a role as protector against evil. It was used as a charm against the evil eye and was laid in cradles to protect children from nightmares. It was burned in churches as incense, and some said rosemary would refuse to grow in the gardens of the wicked, which must have given anxious moments to some pious homeowners. Hungarian queen’s water, a miraculous liquid for the cure of many illnesses including arthritis of the hands and legs, was popular for many years. Attributed to St. Elizabeth, Queen of Hungary, the recipe called for three parts of distilled brandy and two parts of the leaf and flower of rosemary.
Rue (herb of grace) — At one time in England, holy water was sprinkled from bushes made of rue at the ceremony usually preceding the Sunday Mass, for which reason the plant was often called the herb of repentance or herb of grace. Rue (Lk 11:42) and wormwood (Rev 8:10-11) are both bitter herbs, rarely used for culinary purposes, but often grown in gardens for their attractive foliage.
Sage was considered a cure for teething babies in the Middle Ages. The babies wore twelve leaves of sage, denoting the twelve apostles.
Sorrell, wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) — This plant, called “alleluia” because it springs forth during the time of year when the alleluia was sung in churches, is considered by many to be the plant used by St. Patrick to demonstrate the Trinity to the ancient Irish, although a tiny kind of clover is sometimes accepted as the true shamrock. Fra Angelico often depicted this plant in his paintings.
Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum) — It was the habit to include a spray of this plant in country bouquets presented to lovers, and St. Francis de Sales said, “To love in the midst of sweets, little children could do that, but to love in the bitterness of Wormwood is a sure sign of our affectionate fidelity.” It used to be the custom for women to carry large bunches of this plant and balm into church so that their keen scent would prevent people from feeling drowsy.
Spearmint — Our common spearmint is another herb that was dedicated to the Virgin and was often called Erba Santa Maria or Menthe de Notre Dame. It was used as a strewing herb on the floor of churches, and to repel mice. Star of Bethlehem (ornithogalum arabicum — Supposedly first appeared on the earth on the night of Christ’s birth. According to the legend, the star that led the three wise men to the Child burst into thousands of fragments after stopping at its destination, and each fragment that touched the earth turned into a flower.
Strawberry — The strawberry was early dedicated to the Virgin Mary. An old superstition tells that if a mother came to heaven’s gates with the stain of strawberries on her lips, she was cast down to hell for trespassing in the Virgin’s fields. In parts of Europe, the Virgin was said to accompany children when they picked strawberries on St. John’s Day, and on that day no mother who has lost a child will eat a strawberry lest her little one get none in Paradise.
Tansy — One of the strewing herbs used in churches, and another of the plants dedicated to the Virgin. It is connected with some interesting old Easter customs. Archbishops, bishops, and priests played handball with men of their congregation, and a tansy cake was the reward of the victors. These cakes, made from the young leaves of the plant mixed with eggs, were throught to purify the body after the strict diet of Lent. Later, the cakes were eaten on Easter Day as a remembrance of the bitter herbs eaten by the Jews at Passover.
Tarragon was used to prevent fatigue. In the Middle Ages, many pilgrims tucked leaves of this herb into their shoes to sustain them on their long, foot-wearying journey to the Holy Land.
Thyme, by ancient tradition, was one of the herbs that formed the bed of the Virgin. It became associated with death, and is one of the fragrant flowers planted on graves in Wales. The Order of Oddfellows carried sprigs of thyme at funerals and threw them into the grave of a dead brother. The knights riding off to the Crusades often carried scarves embroidered by their wives and sweethearts which showed a bee hovering over a sprig of thyme, a symbol of courage and energy.
Tobacco, first introduced to England in 1586 by Sir Walter Raleigh, met with violent opposition, including a Papal Bull.
Vervain (Verbena officinalis) was also known as the herb of grace. Although the name “verbena” was the classical name for altar plants in general, and the druids included it in their lustral water, there was a legend that it was discovered on the Mount of Calvary where it staunched the wounds of the crucified Savior. It was crossed and blessed with a commemorative verse when gathered and worn around the neck to fend off headaches and snakes, and for general good luck and good eyesight.
Winter cress, a close relative of watercress, has as part of its botanical name “Barbarea,” because in some parts of Europe it is the only green plant that can be picked on St. Barbara’s Day in early December.
Violets, Sweet violets — Although these beautiful little plants has been known and revered by herbalists since before the time of Christ, most of their claims to medicinal benefits have not been validated by modern science. They make pretty floral accents to the shady side of the herb garden, and you can candy the flowers for delicate cake decorations. Beat one egg white with a fork until frothy. Paint the violets with the egg white using a small, clean paint brush. Gently cover with granulated sugar and place on a plate of sugar to dry.
Weed — The word “weed” is of unknown origin and is a relative term. In the most widely accepted sense, a weed is any troublesome and useless plant growing on cultivated ground to the injury of the crop or vegetation desired. The Oxford dictionary defines the term as a “herbaceous plant not valued for use or beauty, growing wild and rank, and regarded as cumbering the ground and hindering the growth of superior vegetation.” Shakespeare refers to such plants as lacking “both beauty and utility.”
But in another sense, any plant growing where it is not wanted is regarded as a weed. In this sense there are no species of weed, because a plant might be a weed in one place and not a weed in another. Even a corn plant growing in a wheat field would be a weed. The United States Department of Agriculture defines a weed as “an unwanted plant, or a plant out of place. “ In the popular sense, a weed signifies a plant more or less useless, irrespective of where it grows. The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “And what is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not been discovered.”
Note: the phrase “widow’s weeds” is derived from an Anglo-Saxon root meaning “to weave,” and is not related to “weed” in the horticultural sense. Formerly, clothes in general were called “weeds.”
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