The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #58211 Message #920197
Posted By: ooh-aah
27-Mar-03 - 10:34 PM
Thread Name: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
Subject: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
I've just been listening to the Copper's glorious album 'Come Write Me Down' and learning 'Cupid's Garden'. Some of the lyrics go:
And one it was sweet Nancy so beautiful and fair,
The other was a virgin, and did the laurels wear'
and later,
"No I'm not engaged to any young man I solemnly decare,
I mean to stay a virgin, and still the laurels wear."
Did virgins really go around with great clumps of laurel in their hair, and if not why is it mentioned? Why wear it, apart from as a 'come and get me' signal?