Victorian Manger Herbs, Potatoes with Herbs de Provence

Herbs were an integral part of life during the Victorian era. During the Christmas season, herbs were used in holiday foods and to scent the holiday atmosphere. They were displayed in manger scenes, a popular decoration of that time.

The subject of herb plants of the manger are starting to become popular again. In the manger, special herbs were part of the legend surrounding the Christmas story. These herbs are called “manger herbs” – herbs that Mary used to make Jesus’ bed in the cattle manger for the future king. In Victorian households, this little story was told on Christmas, and the legend is a meaningful one to pass on.

Lady’s Bedstraw: Mary used this to line the manger and lull Jesus to  sleep.

The legend tells us that Joseph was the one who gathered herbs and grasses, which grew abundantly, to line Jesus’ manger. One of those, bedstraw, was a common stable plant. Farmers fed it to their cows to have sweeter milk. It has a honey like scent when crushed, and is very calming. Lady’s bedstraw is a ground cover in the Bible portion of my herb garden, and has beautiful bright green leaves and small bunches of golden flowers. Legend has it that the flowers were originally white but turned golden for the tiny king. It can be dried and stuffed into small muslin pillows, called sleep pillows.

Chamomile. We know this as a calming herbal tea.

Apple scented chamomile was a very popular herb during Victorian times. People dried the flowers and brewed them into a tisane, a tea to calm the nerves and reduce headaches. I do the same today. Mary used the herb to calm the baby.

Lavender. Mary laid the swaddling clothes of Jesus on a lavender bush to dry.

His clothes had a beautiful fresh scent and the flowers took that scent up. Lavender was used to freshen linens just like we do today, and bedding and sick rooms. It also was used to deter moths and no Victorian home could do without lavender.

Rosemary. Relates to the story of the Holy Family’s hurried flight from Herod.

Legend has it that rosemary shrubs were silent as they journeyed through the Egyptian countryside while the other bushes crackled and snapped as they passed  through them. The rosemary bushes parted very quietly so they could pass through them, and then closed behind them so that the soldiers could not see where they had fled. Mary was grateful to the rosemary bushes, so she hung her cloak on a rosemary bush and the formerly white flowers turned blue in her honor so, like lavender, rosemary was given special significance. In Victorian homes rosemary was used for cooking and also in small bouquets to signify remembrances. I put rosemary sprigs in my Christmas cards. Rosemary has a clean, piney scent and is said to bring good luck, as well.

Pennyroyal, a type of mint, was also used as a manger herb.

Pennyroyal was so common as to be considered a weed, much like it’s other mint family members. There’s a type of pennyroyal that is low growing. Legend has it that it did not bloom, but being fragrant, it was used to line the manger. Members of the mint family are good air cleaners, as well. Supposedly, the pennyroyal burst into bloom the minute Jesus was born, and ever since then, it has bloomed, and the flower is the color of royalty: purple.

Horehound, one of the bitter herbs, hinted of Jesus’ future sorrows.

Mary cried when she saw horehound in with the manger plants.  Joseph had brought it to her since it has very soft leaves. Horehound was believed to have healing powers (and it is a wonderful herb for sore throats) but the plant also foretold of the sorrows in Jesus’ future. We know it as a bitter herb at Passover to honor the Jewish exodus from Egypt. Mary tried to remove it, but it was so embedded in with the other plants, that she could not. I grow horehound in my garden, and I can tell you it has sticky, prickly parts and can look unsightly very quickly.

Thyme. Mary put this in the manger to guard against disease.

Thyme is like a medicine chest in a plant – it’s very antiseptic and was used for teas during Victorian times. I still make a thyme and sage tea for a sore throat and also put thyme in most of my soups. It was also a symbol of courage and endurance, so was the perfect herb for the manger.

Rita’s Herbes de Provence

Manger herbs, like thyme, rosemary and lavender are important to this gourmet blend.  It’s expensive to buy, but you can make it at home and give as gifts.

(Good with lamb, grains, eggs, tomatoes, pork, beef and in seafood recipes)

Blend together and store in cool, dry place away from light:

1/4 cup dried thyme leaves (not powdered)

2 tablespoons dried marjoram or 1 tablespoon oregano

1 tablespoon dried rosemary, minced

1 tablespoon dried savory leaves, not powdered savory

2 teaspoons dried lavender flowers

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

1 dried bay leaf, crumbled

Roasted potatoes with Herbs de Provence

Preheat oven to 400.

2 large baking potatoes, cut into wedges with skin left on

Mix together and toss with potatoes, coating well:

4 tablespoons olive oil

Salt, pepper to taste

2 teaspoons garlic or to taste

Herbes de Provence to taste (start with 2 teaspoons)

Spray cookie sheet and pour potatoes on in single layer. Roast until golden and done, about 20-25 minutes.

Rita Nader Heikenfeld writes a weekly cooking column and blog for the Community Press, appears weekly on Sacred Heart Radio, and is the author of several cookbooks. An adjunct profesor at the University of Cincinnati, she is Macy’s Regional Culinary Professional  (CCP) and is a Certified Modern Herbalist. She lives “in the sticks” outside Batavia, Ohio with her family, where they heat with wood, raise chickens for eggs, and grow their own produce and herbs.

 Rita’s Bible Foods segment airs on the Son Rise Morning Show every Thursday morning at 7:22 am (rebroadcast Friday at 6:02 am). Tune in to hear her discuss the history behind each recipe and the scripture verses that inspired it. And of course, for cooking tips!

If you’ve enjoyed this story, please use the “share” buttons to forward it to friends — and please subscribe at the box at the top of the page to get our stories daily in your inbox.