Scottish Heather
Scottish Heather grows freely and abundantly, and carpets the Scottish moors, glens and highlands with glorious purple hues. There are around 5 million acres of heather spread across Scotland, and perhaps the fact that it was (and still is) so readily available is behind the many, many uses that the Scots have found for one of their national flowers. Heather (Latin name Calluna vulgaris) is a beautiful, hardy plant. The name 'Heather' may come from the old Scottish word haeddre which is seen as far back as the 14th Century. It may also have been called 'heddir' or 'hathar' at different periods of time, and is also sometimes known as 'Ling Heather', referring to the old Norse word 'Lyng' which meant 'light in weight'. The color of wild Scottish Heather usually ranges from lilac to purple, white Heather also grows wild but is much less common - perhaps one of the reasons that it's considered to be a symbol of good luck.
Other species of heather can be found in a variety of colors, from gold or copper, to red or even silver-gray. Heather usually blooms twice a year in Scotland, in early summer and then during the late summer and early fall (Autumn). Although it varies from year to year due to fluctuations in weather, the best time to see the full beauty of Heather in Scotland is often between late July and early September. If you're visiting Scotland, it's a sight not to be missed! Scottish Heather - History & Traditional UseHeather has grown in Scotland as far back as it's history goes, and it's abundance and versatility made it a very useful household commodity in times gone past.Thousands of years BC, dried Scottish Heather was used as a sort of fragrant and 'bouncy' mattress, and the strong, tough stems were used to make ropes. Evidence of both of these have been found in a 4000 year old village on the island of Skara Brae in Orkney. On many of the northern Scottish Islands, such as the Hebrides and the Shetland Isles, Heather played a major role in construction of houses, being fashioned into walls, thatched roofs, ropes, pegs and more. On the mainland, particularly in the Scottish Highlands, the Heather of Scotland was also often used to thatch houses. The strong, stems could be made into brooms, and in some areas they were integrated into farm and garden implements such as hoes/rakes. Heather was used to dye cloth and wool, producing muted yellow, gold, bronze and grey, green or purple colors. Traditional 'Heather Beds' were considered to be just as comfortable as 'feather beds', the dried heather wasn't just light and soft, it was also fragrant and the heads of the dried flowers were usually placed toward the top of the bed, perhaps providing some sort of ancient aromatherapy. The virtues of a mattress made from Scottish Heather were described by King James VI's tutor, George Buchanan, like this... Heather also seemed to have some amazing medicinal properties, and was used by ancient Scots to treat all sorts of conditions and ailments, including nervousness and anxiety, coughs, consumption (TB), poisoning of all sorts, digestive issues, blindness, arthritis, rheumatism and more. It was made into a variety of drinks, potions, ointments and salves and even today, Heather is used in soaps, fragrances, aromatherapy products and more. Two of the most famous products made from Scottish Heather include: Heather Ale The brewing of Heather Ale in Scotland goes back thousands of years, and is thought to be one of the oldest types of ale in the world. On the tiny Isle of Rum, off the west coast of Scotland, 3000 year old shards of pottery have been found which contain traces of a fermented drink made from Heather! It's believed that the Picts developed a recipe for Ale that relied entirely on the Heather plant for its' sweetness and fermentation. It was so prized that it was kept a secret, with only the King and his first-born son knowing the recipe, which would then be passed on down through the generations. This brew was immortalized in the poem entitled 'HEATHER ALE : A Galloway Legend' by Robert Louis Stevenson. It tells, in verse, the legend of the Pictish King who sacrificed both his life, and that of his son, to protect the secret recipe. The first few lines go like this.... They brewed a drink Langsyne Was sweeter far than honey Was stronger far than wine. and the last few like this..... But now in vain is the torture, Fire shall never avail: Here dies in my bosom The secret of Heather Ale.' All I can say is - that must have been some Ale!! Heather Honey Also considered to have healing properties, Heather honey is rich in minerals, and was traditionally used in medicinal drinks and potions. It owes it's deliciously unique flavor to the Heather of Scotland.
Bees work for months to collect enough pollen to produce this beautiful thick, golden honey with the delicate taste of Heather. Today you can also get Heather Honey Jam and Heather Honey Marmalade, as well as a variety of preserves, teas and other luxurious products such as Heather Honey Skin Care products, soaps and more.
Scottish Heather - Legends & MythsThe Scots are a down-to-earth race, but they're also surprisingly sentimental and superstitious, and Scottish culture is full of colorful stories, anecdotes, stories and myths.Scottish Heather has several legends attached to it, more perhaps than it's fair share in fact! The Pictish King & Heather Ale One of the most well-known legends is centered around a confrontation between Viking raiders and the last surviving Pictish King. Some accounts put it during the 4th Century AD, but as the Vikings didn't actually appear on Scottish soil until the end of the 8th Century, this is unlikely... although of course, it's a legend, so there's a bit of 'wiggle room' here! Anyway, after their army is defeated, the Pictish King and his son find themselves cornered on a cliff-top, where the Viking chief tortures them in an attempt to obtain the secret recipe. The King of the Picts is quick witted, but doubts that his son is strong enough to withstand the torture without giving up the recipe, and so he makes a deal with the Viking Chief, saying that if his son is spared the torture and killed quickly, he himself will reveal the secret. So, the young prince is thrown off the cliff and into the sea where he drowns quickly. BUT, the Pictish King doesn't uphold his end of the arrangement, and it costs him his life - however in some variations of the tale he also takes the Viking with him. Why White Heather is Lucky for Brides Wild Scottish Heather is most often some shade of purple, with white heather being much more rare. Legend has it that in the 3rd Century AD, Malvina (daughter of the legendary Scottish poet, Ossian), was betrothed (engaged to be married) to a Celtic warrior named Oscar. Tragically (but not unexpectedly!), Oscar died in battle, and when Malvina heard the news she was heartbroken. The messenger who delivered the bad news, also delivered a spray of purple heather that Oscar had sent as a final token of his undying love for her.
It's said that when Malvinas' tears fell onto the flowers in her hand, they immediately turned white, and this magical occurence prompted her to say 'although it is the symbol of my sorrow, may the white heather bring good fortune to all who find it.' Even today, white Heather is considered to be lucky, especially for brides, and adding a spray of it to your bouquet, on table decorations and so on is popular. But it's not only brides who believe that white Scottish Heather is a symbol of good luck. As I mentioned earlier, the Scottish people are big on superstition, good (and bad) 'omens', legends, luck etc., and white heather is like a four-leaf clover to them. In 1884 even Queen Victoria commented on this character trait during a visit to the Scottish Highlands. Describing an incident which involved one of her personal servants, she said ..... Other myths surrounding the magical properties of white Scottish Heather include the belief that it grows only on ground where blood has not been shed in battle (given Scotlands' warlike history, this may explain its' rarity!), and also that it grows over the final resting place of Faeries. White Heather is closely associated with battles and conflict, bringing good luck to those who wear it. The Chiefs of the Clan MacDonald are said to have attached a spray of wild Scottish Heather to their spears. It's also been linked to the MacAlister, MacIntyre, Ranald, Farquharson, MacPherson and Shaw clans, often being used as a clan symbol in the days before more sophisticated heraldic badges existed. Victorious after a 1544 battle, the Clan Ranald believed that the white Heather they had worn was the reason for their success. Around 200 years later, Ewan of Cluny (Chief of the Clan MacPherson), was forced to flee and hide after the Battle of Culloden. Cluny evaded capture at one point, when those searching for him didn't notice him sleeping in a patch of white Heather, reinforcing the belief that it was lucky. With such a rich and varied history, it's no wonder Scottish Heather is one of the most enduring and recognizable symbols of Scotland. In our opinion, the reputation is well deserved! If we've piqued your interest and you'd like to learn more about the history, legends, uses (and just about everything else) that relates to the Heather of Scotland, we recommend taking a look at this book...  A book dedicated to the history and character of the humble Scottish Heather. It explores the legends behind the flower, giving an interesting and in-depth look at how Scottish Heather came to be such a well-known part of Scotlands symbolism. Easy-to-read style, plus poetry and literary excerpts from historically famous Scots, make this book worth adding to your collection.
Scotland Culture
|
 |
 |
 |
 |