Tussie-mussies are tiny posies or nosegays filled with
fragrant flowers and herbs gathered from cottage gardens and hedgerows. The name ‘nosegay’ derived from medieval
English, immediately invokes the idea of
something happy and pleasant for the nose to smell.
Tussie-mussies were originally attached to the bodice, or a waist band
to ward off disease in Elizabethan England when sanitation was less than
ideal. Interestingly, many of the herbs
used, such as lavender and rosemary, are now known to contain volatile oils
with antiseptic properties.
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During the Victorian era with improved sanitation, the
humble tussie-mussie was used as a pretty gift to give as a token of
appreciation and love. The flowers were
purposefully included according to their meaning. Flowers have been attributed symbolic
meanings across different cultures in literature and art throughout the
ages. In Victorian England, a whole
language of flowers evolved giving each tussie-mussie a unique message for the
recipient that could not be spoken in public.
Around the 1970’s there was a resurgence of interest in
tussie-mussies, with dried flowers bunched together inserted into the centre of
lace paper doilies. While pretty, they quickly
lost their fragrance and colour.
Today, it is possible to create pretty tussie-mussies or
nosegays with fresh flowers and herbs that invite us to breath in their strong
fragrance and take a moment to ‘smell the roses’. And we can even re-create the ‘language of
flowers’ and give these as gifts with our own special meaning.
Of course, it might be useful to attach a
card explaining this for the recipient as there are often multiple meanings for
individual flowers. For example, a rose
may have meanings as diverse as ‘love, modesty or infidelity’ according to its
colour.
(See Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s Dictionary of
Flowers for an updated list of meanings; http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/features/vanessa_diffenbaugh//flower-dictionary/)
Tussie-mussies differ from posies in that they are arranged
in concentric circles, with the most significant and meaningful flower placed
in the centre. To make your tussie-mussie, gather one perfect just-opened rose bud, and 3 or 4 bunches of fragrant herbs and flowers. Lay these out in separate bunches in order of how you plan to arrange your tussie-mussie.
Starting with the rose-bud, add a circle of contrasting flowers or herbs, then add concentric circles of herbs. The final circle of
fragrant herbs or flowers is finished off with contrasting foliage to frame
the tussie-mussie. Simply tie with
twine or ribbon to make the perfect gift with a hidden message.
Gorgeous!!
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