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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
195
Roses
were
said
to
fade
on
St.
Mary
Magdalene's
Day
(July
20),
to
whom
we
find
numerous
flowers
dedicated,
such
as
the
maudlin,
a
nickname
of
the
costmary,
either
in
allusion
to
her
love
of
scented
ointment,
or
to
its
use
in
uterine
affections,
over
which
she
presided
as
the
patroness
of
unchaste
women,
and
maudlin-wort,
another
name
for
the
moon-daisy.
But,
as
Dr.
Prior
remarks,
it
should,
"be
observed
that
the
monks
in
the
Middle
Ages
mixed
up
with
the
story
of
the
Magdalene
that
of
another
St.
Mary,
whose
early
life
was
passed
in
a
course
of
debauchery."
A
German
piece
of
folk-lore
tells
us
that
it
is
dangerous
to
climb
a
cherry-tree
on
St.
James's
Night,
as
the
chance
of
breaking
one's
neck
will
be
great,
this
day
being
held
unlucky.
On
this
day
is
kept
St.
Christopher's
anniversary,
after
whom
the
herb-christopher
is
named,
a
species
of
aconite,
according
to
Gerarde.
But,
as
Dr.
Prior
adds,
the
name
is
applied
to
many
plants
which
have
no
qualities
in
common,
some
of
these
being
the
meadow-sweet,
fleabane,
osmund-fern,
herb-impious,
everlasting-flower,
and
baneberry.
Throughout
August,
during
the
ingathering
of
the
harvest,
a
host
of
customs
have
been
kept
up
from
time
immemorial,
which
have
been
duly
noticed
by
Brand,
while
towards
the
close
of
the
month
we
are
reminded
of
St.
Bartholomew's
Day
by
the
gaudy
sunflower,
which
has
been
nicknamed
St.
Bartholomew's
star,
the
term
"star"
having
been
often
used
"as
an
emblematical
representation
of
brilliant
virtues
or
any
sign
of
admiration."
It
is,
too,
suggested
by
Archdeacon
Hare
that
the
filbert
may
owe
its
name
to
St.
Philbert,
whose
festival
was
on
the
22nd
August.
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