by Beverley Hawkins, West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy Inc.

There are a number of different folklore stories around the use of Rosemary and happiness, fidelity and fertility in marriage? Throughout Europe Rosemary sprigs were woven into a bride's wreath and tucked into her bouquet. Anne of Cleves was thought to have started this custom in England when she married Henry VIII in 1540 and wore a coronet of gold and rubies interwoven with rosemary. Even though the marriage took place in January, long after rosemary's flowering season, there was such a demand for fresh rosemary that it was grown indoors in pots during the winter months. Regrettably for Anne, the rosemary failed to give her a happy marriage, although she did live a contented life in England after Henry had their marriage annulled.

According to the English Poet Ben Jonson, during the 16th and 17th centuries it was customary for the bride to give her husband a bunch of rosemary tied with a golden ribbon on their wedding day. She would apparently then say to him: Rosemary is remembrance between us day and night Wishing I may always have you present in my sight.

I wonder whether any of our modern day brides would like to re-introduce this old custom? Perhaps not, but if they did, the bouquet would certainly smell very aromatic.