The name ‘hawthorn' is derived from the Anglo-Saxon ‘hagedorn’ meaning ‘hedge thorn’, it's the origin of the word 'hag', and the wood traditionally used to make witches’ besoms (broomsticks) and wands. Known as the fairy tree, it is believed to be a gateway to the otherworld, inhabited by powerful fairies. Heavily associated with May Day or Beltane, it was traditional for the young of a village to head out overnight, returning at dawn with baskets of hawthorn blossom, and newly conceived babies! Young women wanting to ensure their beauty in the coming year, would rise at dawn to bathe in dew gathered from hawthorn flowers, and young men would wash their hands with it, hoping to become more skilled at their craft. If a hawthorn tree stood over a holy well, people would tie rags (or clouties) to it, believing the healing properties would be absorbed by the cloth. The Holy Thorn of Glastonbury, which is said to date back to Joseph of Arimathea, had the unusual characteristic of flowering twice a year, in May and again around Christmas. Descendants of the original tree, taken from grafting, retain this feature and each year a sprig is presented to the monarch, a tradition dating back to the King James 1st in the 17th century.

Our petite sentiment charms are made with real flowers in sterling silver, using the traditional technique of lost wax casting. They are beautifully packaged with our signature box posy which changes with the seasons, a card detailing our favourite facts and folklore, and a gift card for a personal message.

Floriography, also known as the language of flowers, is the practice of attributing meanings and symbolism to flowers and has been recorded in traditional cultures around the world for thousands of years.