Thyme is native to the western Mediterranean, and it is also found around western Asia and southern Europe. Garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is the most common variety, and the type found in historical remedies (Brennan 2020).
The usage of thyme dates to 3000 BC, at least. Sumerians used thyme as an antiseptic and to clear a tired mind (Inkwright 2020: 150). Thyme had a range of uses, helping with courage, harmony, healing, sleep, and even acting as an aphrodisiac (Dietz 2020: 216). It’s also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, zinc, iron, calcium, and manganese (Brennan 2020).
But how does thyme appear in folklore? After all, in Maryland, when people moved house, they dug up their thyme bush and took it with them for luck (Baker 2011 [1969]: 149).
Yet it also has links with courage, protection, love, and fairies! Let’s find out how.
Thyme for some Courage
It was supposed to bring courage before battle. Greek soldiers added it to their baths to boost their bravery. European ladies of the court embroidered thyme onto their chosen knight’s tunic to give him courage (Inkwright 2020: 150).
You can thankfully do this for yourself (Harrington 2020: 122). Make a sachet from white muslin fabric and fill it with thyme – fresh or dried will do. Pop it into the warm water of your bath and enjoy the scent. I’ve recommended using the sachet method rather than just adding thyme to your bath for two reasons. One, you don’t want to clear bits of herb out of your bath. Second, you can then hang the sachet under the showerhead if you don’t have a bath!
Thyme was also believed to bring strength to anyone in need. A cup of thyme beer was believed to cure shyness. If you wanted to attract someone specific, then braid thyme into your hair for the courage to tell them how you feel (Inkwright 2020: 150).
You can also make a tea by steeping several sprigs of fresh thyme in boiling water for 5-8 minutes. Alternatively, add 1 teaspoon of powdered dried thyme to boiling water (Brennan 2020).
Be careful before you use thyme though as some people can be allergic to it.
Purification
Thyme has been used as an antiseptic, to treat wounds, soothe digestion, and clear the head. It also appeared in Maundy posies so Margaret Baker suggests it may have had some value in repelling the plague (2011 [1969]: 150).
People added thyme to nosegays to ward off illness since thyme helped to hide bad smells (Dietz 2020: 216).
Its smoke also held value in purification practices. Greek priests burned thyme as incense to purify their temples (Dietz 2020: 216).
In Germany, people gathered wild thyme at Midsummer and mixed it with cinders from the Christmas fires to fumigate apple trees (Baker 2011 [1969]: 149).
You can also use thyme for your own mini purification rites. In the spring, crush thyme and sweet marjoram into a bath to cleanse yourself of past ills and sorrow (Dietz 2020: 216).
Mourning
Like the other plants in the Edible Plants series, thyme appears in relation to funerals. Except it does so around very specific ones. It’s tossed into the grave when a member of the Order of Oddfellows is buried (Dietz 2020: 216).
The Order of Oddfellows dates back to 1730 and was first founded in London. They promote reciprocity, philanthropy, and charity.
There are various theories as to where the unusual name comes from. Stephanie Müller suggests that it refers to people who did ‘odd trades’ for a living. As they didn’t have a specific trade, they couldn’t enjoy the benefits or security offered by one of the guilds. The order, therefore, gave them the chance to be part of a group of ‘odd fellows’ (2008: 61).
But back to thyme! Instead of being a funeral flower, its death connection came about a little differently. People thought the souls of the dead lingered in thyme flowers. This was especially the case with the souls of murdered men, a belief prevalent in England. There is a path at Dronfield in Derbyshire where a young man murdered his girlfriend. She was carrying a bunch of thyme (Baker 2011 [1969]: 150).
Surprisingly, thyme didn’t appear in funeral wreaths or bouquets. This was apparently because ‘the dead have nothing to do with time’ (Baker 2011 [1969]: 150). You have to love a pun.
Love and Romance
Thyme was far more useful in the realm of love and romance. That’s probably because thyme is also sacred to Venus, and worshippers brought roses and thyme to her statue in Eryx, Sicily (Harrington 2020: 122). Harrington recommends having a thyme plant in your house as a mini altar to Venus. The plant will also help bring you courage in love (Harrington 2020: 123).
You could also tuck a sprig of thyme in your hair to make yourself irresistible (Dietz 2020: 216).
If you want to know who you would marry, you could use both thyme and rosemary to do so. On St Agnes Eve, girls were directed to put a thyme leaf in one shoe, and a rosemary sprig in the other. Then, they were to put them on either side of the bed while reciting the charm:
St Agnes, that’s to lovers kind,
Come, ease the trouble of my mind.
With any luck, she would dream of the person she would marry (Baker 2011 [1969]: 149).
In Sweden, people sewed garlic and thyme into the bridegroom’s clothes to prevent him from being bewitched on his way to the church (Baker 2011 [1969]: 149).
Scarborough Fair
There is a theory that the refrain in the song ‘Scarborough Fair’ that inspired this post is in itself a work of love magic. The bouquet contains parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
One translation of this suggests these meanings of the bouquet:
Parsley: I want to have babies with you.
(Jaques 2014).
Sage: I’m dependable.
Rosemary: Remember me.
Thyme: I’m yours.
Well, it’s one way to send a message. And as we saw with the Victorian Language of Flowers, plant symbolism can be combined within a bouquet to send more sophisticated messages. Thyme also meant ‘activity’ in the language though, so make sure your recipient uses the same meanings dictionary as you!
Thyme for Protection
As with many other edible herbs, thyme offered a degree of protection from evil. Placing thyme under your pillow could help drive away nightmares (Dietz 2020: 216). Wearing thyme could ward off evil during your daily errands (Dietz 2020: 216).
People put thyme around doors and windows to deter evil. They might also pin it around the entrance to a barn (Harrington 2020: 122). Others carried thyme to ward off disaster and encourage good luck (Harrington 2020: 122). In Germany, people hung up thyme to keep witchcraft out of their house (Harrington 2020: 122).
Given how many plants have similar uses, I sometimes wonder if people stuck to one plant, or hung up several at the same time.
If you’ve got spaces you want to protect, hang bunches of thyme up to do that. Thyme has the advantage of both protecting people and helping them to feel brave (Harrington 2020: 122). Christina Oakley Harrington advises you to tie the bunches with red thread since red represents fortitude. If you sprinkle dried thyme around the home instead of hanging up thyme, do so from a red cloth or bowl (2020: 123).
You can also make a pouch to carry thyme with you to help ward off bad luck or harm. This will help to provide protection and help you to be brave. A red pouch makes the most sense. Harrington recommends that you use a green pouch if you need Venus’ protection (2020: 123).
Finding Fairies
Thyme apparently gave the ability to see fairies (Dietz 2020: 216). In one legend, fairies enjoyed dancing among thyme, so spotting thyme would help you see them there (Dietz 2020: 216).
During the medieval period, people thought you could find fairies, elves or witches in banks where they could find thyme (Harrington 2020: 122). Shakespeare bears this out in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, when Oberon says, ‘I know a bank where the wild thyme blows’ (Harrington 2020: 122).
I would urge caution in going looking for fairies, but Christina Oakley Harrington recommends finding places where wild thyme grows in plentiful supply. You’re looking for plenty of bushes here. This shows where fairies might live. She also recommends leaving an offering for them, so cream or honey are good choices (Harrington 2020: 123).
Get Planting
I think Venus’ stewardship over the plant helps to explain its association with love and purification. Its use for protection even hints at the clues we have to Venus’ earlier origins as a goddess of war.
Do you like the sound of thyme’s range of powers? In the UK, you can sow thyme seeds in March and April, or plant seedlings from April to August. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. You can always grow it in pots of your soil is wrong (RHS 2022).
Thyme doesn’t like too much water, so be careful not to over-water them. But make sure the pots don’t dry out if you have a dry or hot spell. Then keep harvesting because this actually helps them grow more leaves!
And if you do want to use it in lotions and potions, then you can learn herbalism for yourself! You can do so with the excellent Rowan + Sage! The Kitchen Herbalism course is a great place to start. Click here!
What do you use thyme for?
References
Baker, Margaret (2011 [1969]), Discovering the Folklore of Plants, 3rd edition, Oxford: Shire Classics.
Brennan, Dan (2020), ‘Thyme Tea: Health Benefits, Nutrition Facts, and How to Prepare It’, WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/diet/thyme-tea-health-benefits#1.
Daniels, Cora Linn and Charles McClellan Stevens (2003 [1903]), Encyclopædia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences of the World, Vol. 2, Honolulu, University Press of the Pacific.
Dietz, S. Theresa (2020), The Complete Language of Flowers: A Definitive and Illustrated History, New York: Wellfleet Press.
Harrington, Christina Oakley (2020), The Treadwell’s Book of Plant Magic, London: Treadwells Books.
Inkwright, Fez (2020), Folk Magic and Healing: An Unusual History of Everyday Plants, London: Liminal 11 Press.
Müller, Stephanie (2008), ‘Concept and Contents of Odd Fellowship’, Visit the Sick, Relieve the Distressed, Bury the Dead and Educate the Orphan: The Independent Order of Odd Fellows. A scientific work in the field of cultural studies, vol. 10 of the “Cultural Studies in the Heartland of America” project, Trier: WVT.
RHS (2022), ‘Thyme’, Royal Horticultural Society, https://www.rhs.org.uk/herbs/thyme/grow-your-own.
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