Wild heather often calls to mind the windswept moors of the British Isles where it has blanketed the rocky hillsides for centuries. Blessed with the gifts of strength, fragrance and sweetness, heather has played an important role in history and holds deep symbolic meaning for many people. What more could you ask for in a wedding flower? Oh yah, it's gorgeous!
Whether you want to celebrate a Celtic heritage, give a nod to a distant Scottish clan or simply take advantage of an affordable, sustainable flower that is rich in myth and folklore, heather may be the bloom for you.
Photo Credit: via Flickr
A Storied Past. Throughout history, heather's branches have been used for thatch, brooms, bedding, rope, baskets, fuel, honey, tea, ale and mead. Heather mattresses were said to be more comfortable than down and may have offered the added benefit of being somewhat aromatheraputic.
Photo Credit: Old & Interesting
Solitude. Over time, heather has come to mean different things to different people. A hardy plant, heather thrives on the exposed, windy highlands of it's native regions in Ireland, Scotland, Scandinavia and Russia. Because of this, it has become a symbol of solitude.
Photo Credit: via Flickr
Luck and Protection. In Scotland, heather is said to be stained with the blood of clan wars, thus white is the luckiest, growing only where no blood has been spilled. For this reason, Scottish warriors may have worn white heather for protection. Many people still believe, that the gift of white heather brings luck to both, the giver and receiver.
Image Credit: Cream Tea Club
Lucky for brides. Scottish brides have always carried a sprig of heather down the aisle for luck. Queen Victoria popularized the idea in the 1880s because of her love for Scottish traditions. The following legend may explain why...
In the 3rd Century AD, Malvina (daughter of the Celtic bard, Ossian), was betrothed to a Celtic warrior named Oscar.
As she wandered over the moors, Malvina's tears often fell upon the clumps of purple heather which turned white from the strength of her grief. But then, even in the bitterness of her own sorrow, wishing the others may be happier than herself, Malvina said, "Although it is the symbol of my sorrow, may the white heather bring good fortune to all who find it."
And so it is, to this very day, white heather is still used as a token of good luck.
Image Source: via MagpieSue on Etsy
Beauty and Admiration. In Victorian times, flowers were assigned meanings as a way for friends and young lovers to send secret messages. While white heather seems to have aquired it's meaning of luck and protection from legend, purple heather has long been associated with beauty and admiration.
Image source: The Feathered Nest
Whatever color you choose, heather's fascinating past makes it a meaningful choice for weddings. It's hardiness makes it a great eco-choice and it's abundance keeps it affordable. In my next post, I'll share some of my favorite ways to highlight this ancient, legendary bloom in fresh, striking presentations.
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SOURCES AND CREDITS:
Top image: Original, hand-colored antique botanical print from Louisa Anne Twamley [Meredith]'s The Romance of Nature, 1st edition published in London in 1836. (Source: StudioBotanika)
Historical information sources: scottish-at-heart.com, thoughts.com, druidry.org, electricscotland.com
