“Rosemarie is
for remembrance/betweene vs daie and night” –
Clement Robinson1
Since time in
memoriam, rosemary (Rosemarinus
Officinalis)
has been used as an aid for the memory. Ancients concluded that
because rosemary was able to halt the decay of meat, it must have
some preservative powers2.
The Welsh place rosemary in casks of beer to ensure that the brew
does not sour3.
Throughout many of the areas of Europe, rosemary is used during
funerals to aid in the remembrance of the departed4.
Greek students wore wreaths of rosemary about their brows to assist
in their recall5.
Rosemary was also reckoned to stimulate the memory and was prized as
such6.
It was used in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet
“…rosemary that’s for remembrance..”.7
Rosemary
originated in the Mediterranean areas of Spain and France and was
brought to the British Isles in 1440. As the herb has been mentioned
in various period recipes (Hungary Water) it can be concluded that
the herb was somewhat common throughout much of the period known as
the Middle Ages.
Why
I chose rosemary can be best explained by Sir Thomas More “…as
for Rosemarie…tis the herb sacred to remembrance and therefor to
friendship…”8
Upon the sachet I placed three sprigs of rosemary which represent
the three (A.S) years that Her Excellency served Lions Gate as their
Baroness. Within the sachet is rosemary, so she may remember fondly
her time as Baroness and the friends that she made.
I
made a sachet so she may place it on her festoon, on a belt or within
a bag.
Materials
used:
Linen Cotton
Thread Dried Rosemary
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