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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
126
CHAPTER
XII.
PLANTS
AND
THEIR
CEREMONIAL
USE.
In
the
earliest
period
of
primitive
society
flowers
seem
to
have
been
largely
used
for
ceremonial
purposes.
Tracing
their
history
downwards
up
to
the
present
day,
we
find
how
extensively,
throughout
the
world,
they
have
entered
into
sacred
and
other
rites.
This
is
not
surprising
when
we
remember
how
universal
have
been
the
love
and
admiration
for
these
choice
and
lovely
productions
of
nature's
handiwork.
From
being
used
as
offerings
in
the
old
heathen
worship
they
acquired
an
additional
veneration,
and
became
associated
with
customs
which
had
important
significance.
Hence
the
great
quantity
of
flowers
required,
for
ceremonial
purposes
of
various
kinds,
no
doubt
promoted
and
encouraged
a
taste
for
horticulture
even
among
uncultured
tribes.
Thus
the
Mexicans
had
their
famous
floating
gardens,
and
in
the
numerous
records
handed
down
of
social
life,
as
it
existed
in
different
countries,
there
is
no
lack
of
references
to
the
habits
and
peculiarities
of
the
vegetable
world.
Again,
from
all
parts
of
the
world,
the
histories
of
bygone
centuries
have
contributed
their
accounts
of
the
rich
assortment
of
flowers
in
demand
for
the
worship
of
the
gods,
which
are
valuable
as
indicating
how
elaborate
and
extensive
was
the
knowledge
of
plants
in
primitive
periods,
and
how
magnificent
must
have
been
the
display
of
these
beautiful
and
brilliant
offerings.
Amongst
some
tribes,
too,
so
sacred
were
the
flowers
used
in
religious
rites
held,
that
it
was
forbidden
so
much
as
to
smell
them,
much
less
to
handle
them,
except
by
those
whose
privileged
duty
it
was
to
arrange
them
for
the
altar.
Coming
down
to
the
historic
days
of
Greece
and
Rome,
we
have
abundant
details
of
the
skill
and
care
that
were
displayed
in
procuring
for
religious
purposes
the
finest
and
choicest
varieties
of
flowers;
abundant
allusions
to
which
are
found
in
the
old
classic
writings.
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