Herrick tells us it was formerly the practice to use birch and spring-flowers for decorative purposes at Whitsuntide:—­

  “When yew is out then birch comes in,
  And May-flowers beside,
  Both of a fresh and fragrant kinne,
  To honour Whitsontide.”

At this season, too, box-boughs were gathered to deck the large open fire-places then in fashion, and the guelder rose was dedicated to the festival.  Certain flower-sermons have been preached in the city at Whitsuntide, as, for instance, that at St. James’s Church, Mitre Court, Aldgate, and another at St. Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch, known as the Fairchild Lecture.  Turning to the Continent, it is customary in Hanover on Whit-Monday to gather the lily of the valley, and at the close of the day there is scarcely a house without a large bouquet, while in Germany the broom is a favourite plant for decorations.  In Russia, at the completion of Whitsuntide, young girls repair to the banks of the Neva and cast in wreaths of flowers in token of their absent friends.

Certain flowers, such as the rose, lavender, woodruff, and box were formerly in request for decking churches on St. Barnabas’ Day, the officiating clergy having worn wreaths of roses.  Among the allusions to the usage may be mentioned the following entries in the churchwarden’s accounts of St. Mary-at-Hill, London, in the reigns of Edward IV. and Henry VII.:—­“For rose garlondis and woodrolf garlondis on St. Barnabe Daye, xj’d.”  “Item, for two doss (dozen?) di bocse (box) garlands for prestes and clerkes on St. Barnabe Day, j’s. v’d.”

St. Barnabas’ thistle (Centaurea solstitialis) derived its name from flowering at the time of the saint’s festival, and we are told how:—­

  “When St. Barnaby bright smiles night and day,
  Poor ragged robin blooms in the hay.”

To Trinity Sunday belong the pansy, or herb-trinity and trefoil, hence the latter has been used for decorations on this anniversary.

In commemoration of the Restoration of Charles II., oak leaves and gilded oak apples have been worn; oak branches having been in past years placed over doors and windows.

Stowe, in his “Survey of London,” speaks of the old custom of hanging up St. John’s wort over the doors of houses, along with green birch or pine, white lilies, and other plants.  The same practice has existed very largely on the Continent, St. John’s wort being still regarded as an effective charm against witchcraft.  Indeed, few plants have been in greater request on any anniversary, or been invested with such mystic virtues.  Fennel, another of the many plants dedicated to St. John, was hung over doors and windows on his night in England, numerous allusions to which occur in the literature of the past.  And in connection with this saint we are told how:—­

  “The scarlet lychnis, the garden’s pride,
  Flames at St. John the Baptist’s tyde.”

Hemp was also in demand, many forms of divination having been practised by means of its seed.