Primrose

One of the first signs of Spring, the primrose name comes from the Latin ‘prima rosa’ meaning ‘first rose’ or ‘first flower’.

The primrose has a long association with faeries and the otherworld in folklore. A portal to the faerie realm can be found where a large patch of primroses grow and faeries enjoy dancing among the flowers at night. This also explains the alternative name for the primrose – ‘fairy cup’. Primroses were placed on doorsteps for faerie folk to bless the home and those in it; hanging primroses from your door was an invitation for faeries to enter (or to ward them off in earlier times when faeries were creatures to be feared), and eating primroses supposedly allowed you to see faeries. Druids often carry the flower for protection during rituals and use primrose oil for purification.

In Celtic folklore, farmers rubbed primroses onto cows udders to encourage milk production and fed hens with primroses to stimulate egg production.

The primrose is believed to have had many medicinal uses through the ages. In medieval times, the primrose was thought to help alleviate stomach pains and aid as a diuretic. It was also used to treat gout, rheumatism and headaches. In Ireland, an infusion of primrose root rubbed on a tooth would soothe toothache and primrose tea helped with insomnia. It has also been known to calm nerves.

In Victorian times, the primrose was a symbol of young love and fickleness.

The primrose was reputed to be the favourite flower of Shakespeare and the bloom appears many times in his work. During this period, a form of anaemia known as the ‘Green Sickness’ or ‘Maid’s Malady’ was common and often fatal. It afflicted young women and girls and would turn their complexion a green/yellow colour. Their pale faces were reminiscent of the primrose and the flower became a symbol of these unfortunate women whose faces never grew to see the sun. A garland of primroses would be hung over the graves of such women at the time.

In Norse mythology, the primrose is a symbol of Freya, goddess of love. The primrose is a perfect flower to use in love spells and charms to attract the one you love. Grind dried primrose to a powder and include in spell jars/bags with rose quartz to attract love magick.