Periwinkle: The Perfect Halloween Flower
Hello Weekly Whorlers! This week we get to untangle the mystery of Periwinkle or Vinca, a common groundcover with some interesting stories. This pretty little guy is the perfect Halloween flower as it can protect you from evil or become part of a tonic to cast a spell on you. So let's jump in and play Trick or Treat with Periwinkle!
How We Got Here: The History Of Periwinkle
Periwinkle has long been intertwined with humans with first records dating back to the First Century when Pliny the Elder first recorded its use in garlands. The flower gets its names from the Latin word vincere meaning "to bind" or "to entwine", due to its vining growth habit.
The plant was used heavily in ancient Greece and Rome, both for its medicinal remedy and evergreen foliage. It was commonly known as Creeping Myrtle and was one of the most consistently referenced plants in European folklore.
In the Middle Ages is when it acquired its most contrasting and dramatic symbolism, often simultaneously representing life, death and the supernatural. In parts of Italy and England it was known as the Flower of Death or Fiore di Morte, as it was commonly placed on the graves of infants and small children. It was also a common sight in cemetery grounds, outlasting many tombstones, becoming a silent marker of forgotten graves.
In Medieval England it was also a symbol of the condemned, as it was made into garlands that were placed on the heads of condemned criminals as they were led to the gallows for execution.
Interesting Uses And Meanings
The Periwinkle has a long and interesting story when it comes to its different uses. It was a common medicinal plant used in folk remedies for everything from headaches and nosebleeds to diabetes and cancers.
Many garlands and circlets were made from its vining branches as they were one of the few evergreen options ancient people had in winter months. This evergreen nature even gave it a metaphor for an enduring bond, eternal love and lasting affection and was often used in European weddings.
The French associate it the Periwinkle flower with warm memories and a remembrance of things past.
Due to its blue color, which was considered sacred to the Virgin Mary, it was often incorporated into religious artwork and symbolizing purity.
On the darker side of things, it was also known as the "Witch's Violet" and was believed to be an important ingredient in a witch's love potion.
It was also believed to be able to protect against evil, as it was believed to exorcise evil spirits, which was strongest if the plant was cut at the full moon.
Did You Know?
The color periwinkle gets its name directly from this flower color.
It is said to be the lifespan of loyalty due to its evergreen nature, even persisting through snow.
The Madagascar Periwinkle has crucial anti-cancer components, helpful in fighting childhood leukimia.
Periwinkle was also considered an ancient aphrodisiac, despite its association with purity.
It is highly toxic!
If found in a wooded area, it can be an archaeological indicator of a long-abandoned settlement or medieval monastery garden!
We hope you enjoyed learning about dual threat that is Periwinkle. Maybe you should find yourself some growing before you go out this Halloween, you might need to fend off evil spirits!