Dressing the graves at Whitsun in Glamorgan

In Glamorgan it was an old and general practice to plant the graves with flowers, so that many churchyards looked like rich gardens, and only sweet-scented plants were allowed: pinks, polyanthus, sweet williams, gillyflowers, carnations, mignonette, thyme, hyssop, camomile and rosemary. A white rose was planted on a maiden’s grave and a red rose on that of anyone known for goodness. In Easter week the graves were newly dressed and fresh earth added, and at Whitsuntide, or the week before, they were weeded and dressed again, while it was very common to strew the graves with flowers on Whit Sunday itself. Where someone had been known for pride or had made enemies, the neighbours might plant scentless flowers such as peonies or African marigolds on the grave by stealth, as a satire.