Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Roses are a standard at Valentine’s Day. But why not tap into some older, more unusual Valentine’s Day traditions?

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Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Periwinkle

Want to ensure long-lasting love in your marriage? Some Caribbean voodoo cultures advocate for sewing periwinkle leaves into the mattress. Periwinkle flowers tend to have a fragrant, floral smell, so this probably isn’t such bad advice. Just make sure you don’t forget about them!

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Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Acorns

According to old English folklore, if you want to find out if you and your partner are meant to be, each of you should pick out an acorn, and drop them simultaneously into a pool of water. If the acorns float towards each other, you can look forward to many more years of happiness. And if they don’t…well, you can always turn them into a tasty snack!

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Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Poplar

Unfortunately, not all Valentine’s Days are a time of joy. If you’re experiencing heartbreak, gather up a small pouch of poplar and keep it as close to your heart as possible, and keep them under your pillow while you sleep.

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Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Bluebells

If you’re feeling insecure in your relationship, bluebells may hold your answer. Old superstition dictates that if you can turn a bluebell inside out without breaking it, your love will stay true to you for the rest of your days or that you will win over the one you love.

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Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Apple

There are a great deal of superstitions around apples– like however many times you twist the stem will correspond to the number of children you’ll have. But according to British lore, if you’re looking to seduce someone, you should sleep with an apple under your arm. Then if you can persuade the object of your desire to eat the apple, they will immediately fall in love with them. (You may want to wear one of our plant-based deodorants to bed if you’re planning to undertake this one.)

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Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Rosemary

If a good Valentine’s Day is all you’re after, try tucking a sprig of rosemary under your pillow before you go to bed and if legend holds true, you’ll see your true love’s face in your dreams. (In the morning, if you didn’t dream of anything, you can take that sprig and spike our favorite winter cider.)

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Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Cumin

According to Medieval traditions, cumin keeps lovers (and chickens!) from wandering. (Such a multipurpose spice!) To ensure a healthy marriage, brides and grooms were encouraged to carry seeds during their wedding ceremony. While we’re probably not going to spend our Valentine’s Day with some cumin seeds in our pocket, we do like to eat a generous serving in our favorite korma recipe. (Carrying it in your stomach totally counts, right?)

Get your plant on.

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Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Periwinkle

Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Acorns

Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Poplar

Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Bluebells

Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Apple

Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Rosemary

Forget Roses: Check Out These Other Botanic Valentine’s Day Traditions

Cumin

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