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Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?

27 Mar 03 - 10:34 PM (#920197)
Subject: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: ooh-aah

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?

Cupid's Garden in DT

27 Mar 03 - 11:02 PM (#920200)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: GUEST,Q

Old song, in the Bodleian Collection- "Cupid's Garden, or The Laurels Wear." Firth c.12(150) and others, between 1840-1865.
Did the laurel mean constancy, and Nancy would stay a virgin until her lover returned? Seems I remember laurel=constancy in some of the old herbals.

28 Mar 03 - 01:36 AM (#920252)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: JennieG

All around my hat I will wear the green willow
All around my hat forever and a day
And if anyone should ask me the reason I'm wearing it
It's all for my true love who's far far away.

I read somewhere that willow stood for faithfulness and constancy; perhaps it's a generic green leafy plant thing.

Cheers

JennieG

28 Mar 03 - 03:56 AM (#920288)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: IanC

Wearing the laurels is for victory (cf Roman generals).

:-)

28 Mar 03 - 04:20 AM (#920299)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laur
From: open mike

i thought laurels were for resting on...
been a few decades since i was a
virgin laurel...don't remember..

28 Mar 03 - 04:27 AM (#920303)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: Bonnie Shaljean

I'm in a FLYING rush right now so I don't have time to look up the proper names and details, but I think it's something to do with an ancient Greek myth, along the lines that a virtuous maiden (named Daphne?) was being pursued by one of the gods who lusted after her, and when he caught her she prayed to (?)Aphrodite to be saved from being ravished by him, whereupon the goddess turned her into a laurel tree. I think the connection between virginity (i.e preserving it) and the laurel stems from that. I also vaguely remember a book or play titled "Daphne Laureola" [sp?] which seems to reinforce the connection between the two.

Sorry I don't have time to research this a bit, but maybe some canny Catter can fill in the gaps (or correct me if I've misremembered something). Byeeeeeeeee...

28 Mar 03 - 04:30 AM (#920305)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: Nigel Parsons

(Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary)
laurel, n. sweet bay tree (Laurus nobilis) used by the ancients for making honorary wreaths.....
laureate adj. crowned with laurel.-n.one crowned with laurel: a poet laureate...

Does this mean these songs describe a 'virgin laureate' ?
Laurel survives the winter weather, to be seen in successsive years. This make the bay tree both 'laurel and hardy!! (Big GROAN)

Nigel

28 Mar 03 - 04:39 AM (#920307)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: Bob Bolton

G'day ooh-aah et al,

My Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary, taking a view from the Antipodes, says that 'daphne', to the English is spurge laurel - and, presumably, that is what is being garlanded in these virgins' hair.

Regards,

Bbob Bolton

28 Mar 03 - 04:49 AM (#920312)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: nutty

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]

LAUREL, n. The _laurus_, a vegetable dedicated to Apollo, and
formerly defoliated to wreathe the brows of victors and such poets as
had influence at court. (_Vide supra._)

28 Mar 03 - 04:53 AM (#920314)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: sian, west wales

Bonnie's on to something, I think. I found this ...

"LAUREL--Both in Medieval and Roman times, the Laurel tree was believed to protect one from lightening. It was believed by the Romans that if a person stood under a Laurel tree they would be protected from the plague. In Medieval times they also believed that standing under the Laurel tree would protect from witches. Daphne , according to the ancient myths, was changed into to Laurel tree by her father to keep Apollo's love advances at bay. Apollo who was smitten with her by Cupid's arrow, was in awe of the tree ,made it sacred and announced he would wear the leaves around his head.. The Laurel wreath was worn around the heads of triumphant men such as the soldiers, statesmen, and poets."

sian

28 Mar 03 - 06:35 PM (#920864)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: GUEST,Q

There is no sole significance meaning for laurel. Laurel nobilis of southern Europe was used by the ancient Greeks to crown victors in the Pythian games, but the 19th century books on flower meanings were varied in interpretation, depending on what was called laurel. 19th century lists of meanings have these for laurel:
Laurel nobilis:
1883- glory; 1885-1892- glory.
American Laurel:
1883- words, though sweet, may deceive.
Common laurel:
1885-1892- perfidy.
Ground laurel:
1885-1892- perseverance.
Mountain laurel:
1883- Glory, ambition; 1885-1892- Ambition, dignity; 1899- ambition, hero.
Laurel-leaved magnolia:
1885-1892- dignity.

See: Flower Language

28 Mar 03 - 07:59 PM (#920906)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: JohnInKansas

A rather brief text is at Daphne, which may at least provide an entry to researching the mythology.

Daphne was pursued by Apollo, but "didn't want to." She prayed to Gaia, who transformed her into a laurel, which was thereafter "sacred to Apollo." There are several ways one might come up with relationships between Apollo and virginity - I won't speculate.

As with most concise stories of this ilk, it's rather hazardous to accept web postings as "authentic," since there seems to be a lot of posting of "what we'd like to believe" mixed in with the what "they believed."

John

28 Mar 03 - 08:58 PM (#920933)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: EBarnacle1

Could it be that the laurel was honoring a triumph over lust? Gods help us!

28 Mar 03 - 09:26 PM (#920954)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laur
From: mack/misophist

The laurel is also sacred to Apollo's prophetic priestesses. And the leek is sacred to Apollo, so there, he must be Welsh.

28 Mar 03 - 09:46 PM (#920983)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: GUEST,Q

The Apollo-Daphne story (Sian, John, above)is the same as that given in "A Smaller Classical Dictionary," William Smith, 1852 (many reprints).

29 Mar 03 - 12:06 AM (#921047)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: Bonnie Shaljean

There are also the references at the bottom of the page, ie Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.568, Amores 3.6.31; Diodorus Siculus 1.69; Hyginus, Fables 203. This really is a known myth, not just a "web posting".

29 Mar 03 - 06:59 AM (#921135)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: poetlady

I think it was Diana, the virgin huntress/moon goddess, not Gaia, the earth goddess, she prayed to.

29 Mar 03 - 04:34 PM (#921368)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: JohnInKansas

The item linked above does give "footnote" citations of some sources for the information; but they are "summarized" rather than quoted, which implies an "interpretation" has been made. As I am not really familiar with the site, I don't know that they have an established reputation for accuracy, or even what "purpose" the site was set up to accomplish.

The Daphne story is a well known one. I've found few "ancient" depictions of the legend, but it has been used by classic artists on a fairly regular basis. Poussin and Bernini examples date from about 1625. Maratti used it in 1681, Tiepolo 1745, Garellia in 1894, and Waterhouse in 1908.

Leighton did a 17 foot wide painting called "The Daphnephoria" in 1876 depicting a "rite of spring," possibly based on the story that certain Apollo cults made regular trips to "the source of the laurel" to bring back fresh laurel to their temple(s). There is an implied, but unconfirmed, presumption that "the source" of the laurel was where they believed it was created when Daphne was "transformed."

The prevalent use of the laurel as a "badge of honor" supports stories that have it given to the "virgins of Apollo," with the suggestion that a young man might so honor one in whom he had a particular interest - and perhaps hoped to transform into something other than a virgin. This specific use of the laurel is alluded to, but not directly described in any text I've found thus far. Whether it was actually a practice in Roman religion is academic, as the traditional belief that virgins were honored with the laurel would seem to be sufficient for reference to it in folk lore and music.

A "working translation" pending more authoritative information, would be that "I'll wear the laurel" means "you may worship (court?) me." Or perhaps even "I'll be your goddess?"

Gaia (or Gaea) does not figure prominently in the "epic" tales that are best preserved, but is a reasonable one to have transformed Daphne, and seems to be the one most reliably cited. Diana is currently a very "popular" diety, but had enough of her own troubles to be an unlikely power for that transformation. As an "equal" to Apollo, she would likely have faced terrible retribution, whereas Gaia was one of the "old order" forces much less affected by the whims of the "more active" dieties. One must suspect that the few sources who put Diana into this story have "modernized" the tale - which has been done frequently just to reduce the number of dieties that appear in old sources.

John

29 Mar 03 - 06:28 PM (#921425)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: Malcolm Douglas

Some accounts describe Daphne as a daughter of Earth; Graves, who is not always a reliable authority(!) glosses this as "priestess of". In either case, an appeal to that deity would seem reasonable.

29 Mar 03 - 06:47 PM (#921438)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

Those who have had the privilage to study Latin and join in the festivities of the Junior Classical League are familiar with virgins and laurels. This is a grand story.

Bulfinch's Mythology


Thomas Bulfinch


Spring Books - London 1964 excerpted pp 19-21.



CHAPTER III

APOLLO AND DAPHNE



Daphne was Apollo's first love.
Her delight was in woodland sports and in the spoils of the chase. lovers sought her, but she spurned them all, ranging the woods, and taking no thought of Cupid nor of Hymen. Her father often said to her, "Daughter, you owe me a son-in-law; you owe me grandchildren." She, hating the thought of marriage as a crime, with her beautiful face tinged all over with blushes, threw her arms around her father's neck, and said, "Dearest father, grant me this favour, that I may always remain unmarried, like Diana (Artemis)." He consented, but at the same time said, "Your own face will forbid it."
Apollo loved her, and longed to obtain her

Apollo loved her, and longed to obtain her; and he who gives oracles to all the world was not wise enough to look into his own fortunes. He saw her hair flung loose over her shoulders, and said, "If so charming, in disorder, what would it be if arranged?" He saw her eyes bright as stars; he saw her lips, and was not satisfied with only seeing them. He admired her hands and arms, naked to the shoulder, and whatever was hidden from view he imagined more beautiful still. He followed her; she fled, swifter than the wind, and delayed not a moment at his entreaties. "Stay," said he, "daughter of Peneus; I am not a foe. Do not fly me as a lamb flies the wolf, or a dove the hawk. It is for love I pursue you. You make me miserable, for fear you should fall and hurt yourself on these stones, and I should be the cause. Pray run slower, and I will follow slower. I am no clown, no rude peasant. Jupiter (Zeus) is my father, and I am lord of Delphos and Tenedos, and know all things, present and future. I am the god of song and the lyre . My arrows fly true to the mark; but, alas! an arrow more fatal than mine has pierced my heart! I am the god of medicine, and know the virtues of all healing plants. Alas! I suffer a malady that no balm can cure!"

The nymph continued her flight, and left his plea half uttered. And even as she fled she charmed him. The wind blew her garments, and her unbound hair streamed loose behind her. The god grew impatient to find his wooings thrown away, and, sped by Cupid, gained upon her in the race. It was like a hound pursuing a hare, with open jaws ready to seize, while the feebler animal darts forward, slipping from the very grasp. So flew the god and the virgin- he on the wings of love, and she on those of fear. The pursuer is the more rapid, however, and gains upon her, and his panting breath blows upon her hair. Her strength begins to fail, and, ready to sink, she calls upon her father, the river god: "Help me, Peneus! open the earth to enclose me, or change my form, which has brought me into this danger!" Scarcely had she spoken, when a stiffness seized all her limbs; her bosom began to be enclosed in a tender bark; her hair became leaves; her arms became branches; her foot stuck fast in the ground, as a root; her face became a tree-top, retaining nothing of its former self but its beauty, Apollo stood amazed. He touched the stem, and felt the flesh tremble under the new bark. He embraced the branches, and lavished kisses on the wood. The branches shrank from his lips. "Since you cannot be my wife," said he, "you shall assuredly be my tree. I will wear you for my crown; I will decorate with you my harp and my quiver; and when the great Roman conquerors lead up the triumphal pomp to the Capitol, you shall be woven into wreaths for their brows. And, as eternal youth is mine, you also shall be always green, and your leaf know no decay." The nymph, now changed into a Laurel tree, bowed its head in grateful acknowledgment.

Sincerely,

Gargoyle

29 Mar 03 - 07:11 PM (#921448)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: JohnInKansas

As an incidental note: The statue used to illustrate the short story linked above appears to be a "modern" rendition, artist unknown. The one by Garellia (born in 1864, no date for the work at the only site I've found that lists it - artrenewal.org), is a rather "modern" but almost exact copy of Bernini's 1622-1625 work (in prettier marble?), and both show what appears as laurel branches/leaves in Daphne's hand. The illustration looks more like she's holding a "Hawaiian lei," - or a garland woven from something. It's otherwise a copy of the Bernini, quie possibly one of those "simulated marble castings in durable resin from the original" sold by the faux-art trade.

There is much more variation in the way Daphne is depicted in paintings than in sculpture I've seen with this theme. Bernini apparently "defined" the sculptural depiction.

John

29 Mar 03 - 07:30 PM (#921456)
Subject: ADD Transformation of Daphne into a Lawrel
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

This is Bulfinch's source. Excerpted and highlighted from:
Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book I

http://classics.mit.edu/Ovid/metam.html



The Transformation of Daphne into a Lawrel



The first and fairest of his loves, was she
Whom not blind fortune, but the dire decree
Of angry Cupid forc'd him to desire:
Daphne her name, and Peneus was her sire.

Cupid
Two diff'rent shafts he from his quiver draws;
One to repel desire, and one to cause.
One shaft is pointed with refulgent gold:
To bribe the love, and make the lover bold:
One blunt, and tipt with lead, whose base allay
Provokes disdain, and drives desire away.
The blunted bolt against the nymph he drest:
But with the sharp transfixt Apollo's breast.

Th' enamour'd deity pursues the chace;
The scornful damsel shuns his loath'd embrace:
In hunting beasts of prey, her youth employs;
And Phoebe rivals in her rural joys.
With naked neck she goes, and shoulders bare;
And with a fillet binds her flowing hair.
By many suitors sought, she mocks their pains,
And still her vow'd virginity maintains.
Impatient of a yoke, the name of bride
She shuns, and hates the joys, she never try'd.
On wilds, and woods, she fixes her desire:
Nor knows what youth, and kindly love, inspire.
Her father chides her oft: Thou ow'st, says he,
A husband to thy self, a son to me.


She, like a crime, abhors the nuptial bed:
She glows with blushes, and she hangs her head.
Then casting round his neck her tender arms,
Sooths him with blandishments, and filial charms:
Give me, my Lord, she said, to live, and die,
A spotless maid, without the marriage tye.
'Tis but a small request; I beg no more
Than what Diana's father gave before.
The good old sire was soften'd to consent;
But said her wish wou'd prove her punishment:
For so much youth, and so much beauty join'd,
Oppos'd the state, which her desires design'd.

The God of light, aspiring to her bed,
Hopes what he seeks, with flattering fancies fed;
Swift as the wind, the damsel fled away,
Nor did for these alluring speeches stay:
Stay Nymph, he cry'd, I follow, not a foe.
Thus from the lyon trips the trembling doe;

Perhaps thou know'st not my superior state;
And from that ignorance proceeds thy hate.
Me Claros, Delphi, Tenedos obey;
These hands the Patareian scepter sway.
The King of Gods begot me: what shall be,
Or is, or ever was, in Fate, I see.
Mine is th' invention of the charming lyre;
Sweet notes, and heav'nly numbers, I inspire.
Sure is my bow, unerring is my dart;
But ah! more deadly his, who pierc'd my heart.
Med'cine is mine; what herbs and simples grow
In fields, and forrests, all their pow'rs I know;
And am the great physician call'd, below.
Alas that fields and forrests can afford.
No remedies to heal their love-sick lord!
To cure the pains of love, no plant avails:
And his own physick, the physician falls.

Fear gave her wings; and as she fled, the wind
Increasing, spread her flowing hair behind;
And left her legs and thighs expos'd to view:
Which made the God more eager to pursue.
The God was young, and was too hotly bent
To lose his time in empty compliment:
But led by love, and fir'd with such a sight,
Impetuously pursu'd his near delight.

But he more swiftly, who was urg'd by love.
He gathers ground upon her in the chace:
Now breathes upon her hair, with nearer pace;
And just is fast'ning on the wish'd embrace.
The nymph grew pale, and in a mortal fright,
Spent with the labour of so long a flight;
And now despairing, cast a mournful look
Upon the streams of her paternal brook;

Oh help, she cry'd, in this extreamest need!
If water Gods are deities indeed:
Gape Earth, and this unhappy wretch intomb;
Or change my form, whence all my sorrows come.

Scarce had she finish'd, when her feet she found
Benumb'd with cold, and fasten'd to the ground:
A filmy rind about her body grows;
Her hair to leaves, her arms extend to boughs:
The nymph is all into a lawrel gone;
The smoothness of her skin remains alone.
Yet Phoebus loves her still, and casting round
Her bole, his arms, some little warmth he found.
The tree still panted in th' unfinish'd part:
Not wholly vegetive, and heav'd her heart.

He fixt his lips upon the trembling rind;
It swerv'd aside, and his embrace declin'd.
To whom the God, Because thou canst not be
My mistress, I espouse thee for my tree:
Be thou the prize of honour, and renown;
The deathless poet, and the poem, crown.
Thou shalt the Roman festivals adorn,
And, after poets, be by victors worn.
Thou shalt returning Caesar's triumph grace;
When pomps shall in a long procession pass.
Wreath'd on the posts before his palace wait;
And be the sacred guardian of the gate.
Secure from thunder, and unharm'd by Jove,
Unfading as th' immortal Pow'rs above:
And as the locks of Phoebus are unshorn,
So shall perpetual green thy boughs adorn.
The grateful tree was pleas'd with what he said;
And shook the shady honours of her head.

Sincerely,

Gargoyle

29 Mar 03 - 07:42 PM (#921465)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

Some paintings of Apollo and Daphne




http://www.artmagick.com/paintings/painting1412.aspx

http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/m/maratti/apollo_d.html

http://www.abcgallery.com/P/poussin/poussin109.html

Sincerely,

Gargoyle

30 Mar 03 - 12:46 AM (#921566)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: JohnInKansas

The following links to art with the Daphne and Apollo theme are to "thumbnail pages." Click on the thumbnail if you want an enlargement.
Bernini sculpture 1620s 4th and 5th down.
Carlo Maratti 1681 3d picture down.
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo 1744 scroll down 7 pictures
Nicolas Poussin 1625 scroll to the bottom.
Antonia Garellia
John William Waterhouse 1908 about half way down.
Lord Frederick Leighton "Daphnephoria" 1874-6. Click on the thumbnail for enlargement, or on the "Download Hi Res" bar for a really enlargeable file (1.8 MB).

And another plug for the "biggest and best" web art site:
Art Renewal Center Homepage
Artist Index at ARC page 1 of 17.

We've probably got Daphne pretty well pegged - but are we making any progress toward why virgins get laurels?

John

30 Mar 03 - 12:46 PM (#921849)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: Marje

This would be a better contribution if I could remember where I read it, but I understood that young people of both sexes sometimes wore laurel or other greenery as a sign of constancy to an absent lover. Whic, if they hadn't yet slept together, would amount to a sign of virginity. I suppose it would have served to warn other suitors to keep their distance. The custom may have its origin in classical mytholgy, as explained in other posts.

It comes in the English traditional song "Sheep Crook, Black Dog": "I'll lay o'er the green branches although I am young.." (this sung by a male); and also: "Fine laurels, fine laurels, you've proved all unkind".

31 Mar 03 - 03:11 AM (#922269)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: IanC

I looked up why ancient Roman generals got laurels for victory. One or two of the texts said that the laurels were worn "for virtue".

It's probably just like that.

:-)

31 Mar 03 - 09:51 AM (#922475)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: Dave Bryant

Fellows wearing errections !

20 Jan 07 - 03:52 PM (#1942709)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laur
From: GUEST,Bardan

There are 'green mantles', which seem to stand for virginity in quite a few songs. (Off the top of my head I can only think of a version of Tamlin and 'her mantle so green'.) Possible link? We're still in the realm of green things at least. And virginity has been suggested as what the bunch of thyme symbolises in 'the bunch of thyme'. (Someone else once told me it was probably a recipe for soup, but there you are.) Could just be a green buds/shoots young vs rest of the plant old kind of analogy taken a bit further.

Having said that green is robin hood's colour as well and he's quite a virile character in english folklore isn't he. (I'm thinking dodgy may-day celebrations and stuff.)

20 Jan 07 - 04:18 PM (#1942727)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: Bee

I had to translate that story when taking high school Latin (which I did for four years in order to avoid math). Given the popularity of classical mythology (raciest stories available for several eras in England), I'd go with the laurel-virgin connection coming from the Daphne story.

20 Jan 07 - 10:22 PM (#1942971)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: mack/misophist

The ins and outs of mythology are not always well understood. For example, Apollo Smintheus was 'mouse protector' but no one knows whether he protected the mice themselves or protected us from their ravages. Furthermore, few customes were followed universally, so that the implications of a custom followed in rural Greece might be contradicted by the implications of one from Etruria. It's enough to know that laurel was a symbol of honor and virginity but not necessarily both at the same time. Caaesar was granted the honor of wearing a laurel wreath whenever he pleased. Was ne a virgin? I think not.

21 Jan 07 - 12:16 AM (#1943000)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: JohnInKansas

There are 'green mantles', which seem to stand for virginity in quite a few songs ...?

Q. Why Are Masters Champions Presented with a Green Jacket?

Each year, the winner of The Masters is presented with the famous "Green Jacket." Slipping on the green jacket is the golden moment for many winners of the tournament. But how did a green jacket come to be such a big deal? What is the story behind the vaunted Green Jacket?

A. Let's face it: if you saw someone walking around in public in a shamrock green jacket, you'd probably think that person was severely fashion-challenged. Shamrock green jackets are, well, ugly.

But the Green Jacket presented to the Masters champion is one beautiful piece of outerwear. The tradition of the Green Jacket at Augusta National Golf Club dates to 1937. That year, members of the club wore green jackets during the tournament so that fans in attendance could easily spot them if they needed to ask questions.

According to the official website of The Masters:

... The single breasted, single vent Jacket's color is 'Masters Green' and is adorned with an Augusta National Golf Club logo on the left chest pocket. The logo also appears on the brass buttons."

Soon, the Green Jacket became the symbol of membership in the ultra-exclusive Augusta National Golf Club. And slipping a jacket onto the winner of The Masters - a tradition that began in 1949 - symbolized that golfer's entry into the exclusive club of Masters champions.

[endquote]

So it doesn't mean the winners have to be virgins?

Another illusion to be discarded.

John

21 Jan 07 - 03:32 PM (#1943512)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laurels?
From: SINSULL

I believe that the Vestal Virgins wore and/or carried laurel. Maybe that is the connection.

21 Jan 07 - 03:39 PM (#1943525)
Subject: RE: Folklore: What was behind virgins wearing laur
From: John MacKenzie

Laurel is poisonous, although Bay which is used as a culinary herb, is the same family.
G