Ever smiled at seeing snowdrops because they were a sign that spring was on the way? Or have you ever tried telling
the time with a dandelion
clock?
Little things like these are among the simplest forms of folklore: passing down tales and traditions through the
generations with widespread word-of-mouth. Flowers can often be found in the forefront of folklore, and for good
reason: tales such as these are a good way to remember the helpful and harmful properties flowers- either that, or
they just look cool!
Perhaps the prime example of both is the humble bluebell:
named after their shape, it’s easy to imagine why these were thought to be used by fairies to call a gathering.
However, many tales of the bluebell are surprisingly macabre- any human hearing a bluebell ‘ring’ would soon die,
and children who picked bluebells in the woods would disappear.
Is there any truth to these spooky stories? Well, yes and no- bluebells are ordinary flowers for the most part, but
their bulbs are quite poisonous; perhaps a story meant to ward careless children away from poisonous plants blended
with their name and appearance to create stories of a more magical threat.
In a similar vein, medicinal flowers have a history with being labelled ‘holy’ or ‘magical’. St.
John’s-wort is probably the most famous example: named after John the Apostle, its earliest uses are dated as
far back as the 6th century, and it’s still seeing widespread use today as a mild anti-depressant. Other examples
include birds-eye
speedwell which is good for coughs, and herb
Robert, which boosts the immune system.
Lady’s
bedstraw is another plant with biblical ties- not for healing properties, but for a much more mundane
utility. As its name suggests, this fluffy-looking flower was once used as mattress stuffing to provide a pleasant
scent. It’s even been suggested that this plant was what lined the manger in a certain stable in Bethlehem!
Meanwhile, some myths are more about where certain flowers came from and why they are the way they are. For example,
the
devil’s-bit
scabious is named for its surprisingly short roots, which stop abruptly as if cut; supposedly the devil was
jealous of the flower’s beauty and bit its roots short in rage.
What a haul of historical and mythological insight from just a few flowers! And that’s far from everything: research
will show there’s a fable for almost every flower you could want, including enough fairy folklore to keep the
critters a common topic of fiction for decades. I’d encourage anyone interested to look up the folklore behind the
flowers in your own garden; even skeptics should find some fascinating stories- and as it’s been shown, not
necessarily all of it’s fiction…
