Life is rapidly…

…Passing me by. This weekend is one of somber remembrance for our family. It marks yet another anniversary for the passing of my grandfather. Poppy was the love of Nanny’s life and every year it’s just as hard to accept his being gone as it was the year before.

So anyway, that is the personal stuff. I’ve been trying to find information that I haven’t used before on the witch/Halloween front. It isn’t proving easy but I also don’t want to be redundant.
Here is the next installment of facts and tidbits:

Did you know that it was most likely thanks to “witches” (Wise women) that men bring women roses?

We know that rise hips help women during their monthly time. The rose hips provide excellent source of Vitamin C, replace the lost iron and many minor chemicals included in the rose hips actually helps stabilize a woman’s moods and emotions during this stressful time. Of course the early wise women didn’t know about all the things modern science has identified in the rose hips. BUT they did know that eating fresh/dried rosehips or sipping rose hip tea helped relieve cramping and moodiness so this became a pretty standard prescription from the village “witch”.

(Ladies, make sure to share this with your man! Now he’ll understand how EXTREMELY important it is to bring you roses….)
The men who were close to a woman (particularly her husband or mate) would make sure that they brought their lover plenty of roses during her period. And obviously a man would have to be on intimate terms with a woman to know the right timing for when to bring roses.

Because “witches” used so many different flowers and herbs there were several Popes who attempted to stamp our heretical witchcraft completely by outlawing the raising and possessing of flowers. The punishment was the death penalty!!!!! Because of this so much has been lost in the way of knowledge in the medicinal herbs and plants. Slowly science is reclaiming what was lost, but it’s very sad that so much was forgotten.

However, the association of roses with romance and love remained long after the actual witchcraft meaning was lost.

Interesting factoid huh?

I’ve got to sign off for the day. But I will be back Monday with more fun and interesting facts!

Huggles!
Donica