Heather
Keywords
Admiration, Change, Healing, Knowledge, Loneliness, Luck, Passion,
Philosophy, Protection, Reflection, Spirituality, Transition
Historical
Background and Folklore
The Latin name Erica comes from the Greek, ereiko, which means to
break. This is believed to come from either the medicinal use to
dissolve gallstones or the fact that its branches are easily broken.
The name Calluna comes from the Greek kallunein, which means to
cleanse. This may have been derived from the medicinal use to deal
with internal disorders as well as the use of its twigs to make
brooms (and thus, clean one’s home). According to British
herbalist John Parkinson who published his research in 1640, heather
could be used for soothing insect stings as well as for treating
kidney stones.
In the highlands of Great Britain where trees are scarce, heather
was used as a fuel for fires, as well as for bedding and thatching.
According to legend, white heather is believed to bring luck and
protection because it was not stained by the blood of the Picts
in their battles against the Saxon invaders of Scotland. Heather
is believed to be the source of the word “heathen”,
which is how the Romans viewed the native people of the Scottish
highlands. |
