Remembering Rosemary
This perennial evergreen gets its name from the Latin ros maris which translates to "dew of the sea" indicating the geographic preference of this Mediterranean native. It later came to be known as the Rose of Mary in honor of the Virgin Mother. The Spanish dubbed the shrubby plant Romero as they believed that Mary took shelter under a large rosemary bush while en route to Egypt. In France, the herb was sometimes referred to as Incensier since it was an economical alternative to incense and was often burned in ceremonial rituals.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is being celebrated as the herb of the year for 2000 and is well worth remembering. This shouldn't be too difficult a task since the herb is recognized throughout the world as the symbol of remembrance. Rosemary signifies remembering the dead and the tradition of placing rosemary sprigs in tombs or on burial sites dates back to ancient Egypt. Shakespeare's Juliet was honored with rosemary at burial, and in Australia, the custom of wearing rosemary on Anzac Day to remember deceased loved ones persists today.
Rosemary has always been popular at weddings, worn by brides to express their true love for their betrothed. Perhaps this custom was exercised to manifest more than an expression of love, since it was also said that "where rosemary flourished, the woman ruled" and as the Treasury of Botany maintains: "There is a vulgar belief in Gloucestershire and other counties, that Rosemary will not grow well unless where the mistress is "master"; and so touchy are some of the lords of creation upon this point, that we have more than once had reason to suspect them of privately injuring a growing rosemary in order to destroy this evidence of their want of authority." Whatever the case, adding rosemary sprigs to wedding florals and formal dress - and even adding it to the couple's wine - was thought to help them to remember their sacred vows for all time.
Rosemary has long been associated with improving memory and recall of past and present events. Shakespeare's Ophelia appeals to Hamlet with, "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance, pray you love, remember." Scholars and students of ancient Greece often wore bands of rosemary about their heads to help them retain their facts, especially while taking exams.
Rosemary was also an aid in warding off evil spirits. During the Middle Ages, it was a popular practice to place sprigs of rosemary under the head to keep nightmares at bay, and it was often burned to keep the black plague from gaining a foothold in the house. It is still used today in cleansing and purification rituals of various spiritual faiths. But, while rosemary had the power to ward off negativity, it could also inspire joy and prosperity. During the 16th century, wealthy merchants and homeowners would engage perfumers to scent their homes and business quarters with rosemary burned over coals. Rosemary was also welcomed in the market place, being sold as bouquets and arranged in floral sprays. And, as Beatrix Potter painted the domestic circumstances found in the Tale of Benjamin Bunny, "Old Mrs. Rabbit was a widow; she earned her living by knitting.... She also sold herbs and rosemary tea...
Medicinally, rosemary has been used to treat migraine, muscle aches, joint disorders, amenorrhea, exhaustion, poor memory and digestion and just about anything else that could affect the body. One of the first herbals (Banckes, 1525) gave significance to rosemary as a medicinal herb when he suggested that one "Take the flowers therof and boyle them in fayre water and drinke that water for it is much worthe against all manner of evils in the body." Queen Elizabeth of Hungary was reputedly cured of paralysis of the joints after a gnarly old hermit concocted a brew made from rosemary oil and alcohol, later dubbed as the infamous Hungary Water. Rosemary was also regularly administered to expectant mothers in late pregnancy since rosemary promotes uterine contractions. However, this practice is best left to the discretion of a physician or trained midwife since it can also induce miscarriage.
The essential oil of rosemary has an antibacterial and antiviral action and is useful in treating burns and wounds or when used in homemade household cleaning formulas. Added to pet shampoos or powders, the oil is also helpful in deterring fleas and in treating flea dermatitis. It is also an excellent remedy for dandruff in people. As a culinary herb, rosemary is a wonderful accompaniment to meats (especially poultry and ham), vegetables, soups and salads.
1 cup unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
dash of salt
½ tbsp sugar
¾ cup milk
2 tbsp butter
2 tsp crumbled, dried rosemary (or 2 tbsp fresh, chopped)
Excluding the rosemary, sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl. With a fork or pastry cutter, work the butter into the dry ingredients - some small lumps will remain. Add the rosemary and milk and mix well to form a soft dough.
Roll out the dough to ½ inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 2 inch rounds and place on a greased and lightly floured baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes at 400° F. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen.
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