Scottish Heather – Flower Full of Legends
Heather is Scotland’s second most recognizable floral symbol, after the thistle. This plant had many practical uses such as thatching, dyes, ropes, brooms, and more. It was also used to treat coughs, phthisis, anxiety, arthritis, and rheumatism.
Another use of heather was to make Heather Ale. The Picts made it for centuries with a secret recipe that did not require the use of malt, hops, or sweeteners. Archaeologists have found traces of a fermented drink containing heather in a 3,000-year-old pottery shard.
Legend has it that in the 4th century, the Vikings defeated the Pictish army and cornered the king and his son on a cliff. The Viking chieftain wanted the secret recipe for heather beer. The king knew the secret was safe with him, but he wasn’t sure if his son would be able to keep it safe. Fearing that his son would reveal the secret under torture, the Picto King “agreed” to give up the recipe, only if his son died quickly. His son was quickly killed and thrown off the cliff. The King then grabbed the Viking Chieftain and threw them both off the cliff, keeping the recipe a secret forever.
Most heather is purple in color, but there are also rare white heather. Rumor has it that it grows over the final resting places of fairies and only where no blood has been shed is the plant said to be extremely lucky. Queen Victoria featured wearing white heather at weddings to bring luck. Some clans have attributed the victory to using white heather sprays or evading capture by hiding in patches of white heather.
According to myth, the beautiful daughter of Celtic Bard Ossian, Malvina, was engaged to a brave warrior named Oscar. One day, Malvina was waiting for Oscar’s return from the war, when a messenger approached her. Oscar had died in battle and sent the messenger with a dew of heather to give to Malvina as a final token of his love. Malvina began to cry and her tears fell on the heather, which immediately turned white. She wandered the moors sobbing, her tears turning white all the heather plants they touched. She said “although it is the symbol of my pain, may the white heather bring good fortune to all who find it.”