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.
