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St Mary's Church Calendar 

May 2008

Events other than regular Church services

Flower for May

Lily of the Valley

The Latin name for this pretty herb, convallaria majalis, derives from the Latin convallis 'valley' and majalis 'May-flowering'.  Other names include May lily, Our Lady's Tears, Lily Constancy, Ladder To Heaven and Convall Lily.  It is a member of the family Ruscaceae along with Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum) and Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus).

Lily of the valley has been associated with May for centuries.  In France, it has been used to bring good luck since the early renaissance and it is one of the flowers associated with the Pagan festival of Beltane which also occurs on May 1st.  Old folk tales claim that Lily of the valley protects your garden from evil spirits.  Carrying a posy of the flowers is said to improve your memory.  The flowers were said to cheer the heart and lift the spirits of all those in their vicinity.

Lily of the valley has been used since the middle ages when they were popular in bridal bouquets, symbolising purity and modesty.  It was favourite flower of the Elizabethans who used it in tussie mussies and nosegays to help perfume the air.  The flowers were also used to make a drink that became known as 'Aqua Aurea', believed to help boost the memory and treat heart conditions.

It is said that Apollo gave the lily of the valley as a gift to Aesculapius, the Greek god of healing.

During the First World War it was apparently used to treat victims of mustard gas: an ointment made from the roots of lily of the valley can be used to treat burns. 

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