Mary's Gold

I love how every flower has a history and every flower symbolizes something.

Here is some of the story and language of the flowering plant, Marigold.

The common name for Calendula, Marigold, is translates as 'Mary's Gold, so called because the blossoms were considered to be the Virgin Mary's flowers.

The Latin name for the European Marigold is Calendula, which derives from the Latin word calendae 'the first day of the month.'

Calendula was often called Pot Marigold because it was used as seasoning in the cooking pots of the poor and was used as an inexpensive substitute for saffron, adding its colour to cakes, butter, and puddings.

Like the Sunflower, the Calendula blossom follows the sun; as a result, it has earned the nickname "Sun's Bride."

In Germany, the flower was often called 'Monk's Head' because when stripped of its petals, the remains look like a monk's tonsure.

It is believed that when Shakespeare wrote about merrybuds, he was referring to the blossoms of Calendula.

Among other nicknames for the popular blossom are Souci, Marybud, Bull's Eye, Garden Marigold and Holligold.