Herbal Folklore- The Rose
The Rose has an ancient history,
originally dedicated to Venus the Roman goddess of love,
it came to be adopted by the Christians as a symbol of the Blessed Virgin.
Earliest Rosaries consisted of a string of pressed petals
and a single rose was regarded as the emblem of perfection,
with Christian ideals of martyrdom,virginity and divine love.
Local English customs remain. Dreaming of Roses will bring good luck and happiness in love ?
Young girls used it to identify their future husbands.
They picked the rose on Midsummer’s day then packed it away until Christmas
and if worn in Church on Christmas Day their future lover would come and take it from them.
She must no more a- Maying,
Or, by Rosebuds divine
Who’ll be her valentine
Roses had their ceremonial use as was traditional to strew rose petals along the bridle path.
The same flower had its place at funerals for while red roses where placed on the grave of a virgin,
white roses were placed on that of someone who was considered to have led a truly good life.
All roses served as a reminder of the transience of life.
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a flying.
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.’
Poems by Robert Herrick
