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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
189
In
Bareuth
young
girls
go
at
midnight
on
Easter
Day
to
a
fountain
silently,
and
taking
care
to
escape
notice,
throw
into
the
water
little
willow
rings
with
their
friends'
names
inscribed
thereon,
the
person
whose
ring
sinks
the
quickest
being
the
first
to
die.
In
years
past
the
milkwort
(Polygala
vulgaris),
from
being
carried
in
procession
during
Rogation
Week,
was
known
by
such
names
as
the
rogation-flower,
gang-flower,
procession-flower,
and
cross-flower,
a
custom
noticed
by
Gerarde,
who
tells
us
how,
"the
maidens
which
use
in
the
countries
to
walke
the
procession
do
make
themselves
garlands
and
nosegaies
of
the
milkwort."
On
Ascension
Day
the
Swiss
make
wreaths
of
the
edelweisse,
hanging
them
over
their
doors
and
windows;
another
plant
selected
for
this
purpose
being
the
amaranth,
which,
like
the
former,
is
considered
an
emblem
of
immortality.
In
our
own
country
may
be
mentioned
the
well-dressing
of
Tissington,
near
Dovedale,
in
Derbyshire,
the
wells
in
the
village
having
for
years
past
been
most
artistically
decorated
with
the
choicest
flowers.
[2]
Formerly,
on
St.
George's
Day
(April
23),
blue
coats
were
worn
by
people
of
fashion.
Hence,
the
harebell
being
in
bloom,
was
assigned
to
the
saint:--
"On
St.
George's
Day,
when
blue
is
worn,
The
blue
harebells
the
fields
adorn."
Flowers
have
always
entered
largely
into
the
May
Day
festival;
and
many
a
graphic
account
has
been
bequeathed
us
of
the
enthusiasm
with
which
both
old
and
young
went
"a-Maying"
soon
after
midnight,
breaking
down
branches
from
the
trees,
which,
decorated
with
nosegays
and
garlands
of
flowers,
were
brought
home
soon
after
sunrise
and
placed
at
the
doors
and
windows.
Shakespeare
("Henry
VIII.,"
v.
4),
alluding
to
the
custom,
says:--
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
