What is a Tussie-Mussie Bouquet?
Tussie-mussies, also called nosegays, are bouquets of flowers arranged in concentric circles. In the Victorian era, these posies were selected to send messages of love or friendship. Make a simple tussie-mussie for your sweetheart with both garden-grown and store-bought flowers.
What is a nosegay floral arrangement?
A nosegay, posy, or tussie-mussie is a small flower bouquet, typically given as a gift. They have existed in some form since at least medieval times, when they were carried or worn around the head or bodice. Doilies are traditionally used to bind the stems in these arrangements.
When were tussie-mussies popular?
These small bouquets of flowers, called tussie-mussies, were a popular gift and carried by matrons, debutantes and girls. By the 1830s, using decorative holders to contain these small bouquets became an established fashion trend.
How does a Tussie Mussie work?
Nosegays were held close to the nose, or worn as a brooch, a hair ornament, or tied around the waist. Both men and women wore or carried certain flowers and herbs to ward off disease. The small tapered metal vase that holds small bouquets is now sometimes called a tussie-mussie, as are the fragrant flowers in the vase.
Where did the term nosegay come from?
Nosegay is a homegrown word—that is, it originated in English. 15th-century Middle English speakers joined nose (which meant then what it does today) with gay (which, at the time, meant “ornament”). That makes nosegay an appropriate term for a bunch of flowers, which is indeed an ornament that appeals to the nose.
What kind of flower is a Posey?
Also called nosegays or tussie-mussies, posies are small bouquets of flowers that have been popular since medieval times. In the Victorian era, posies were created with very specific flowers that, according to the Victorian language of flowers, had specials meanings and were given to people to convey messages.
What’s a nosegay corsage?
Sometimes the mothers of the bride and groom prefer a small nosegay: this is a small hand-tied bouquet, wrapped with ribbon or carried in a small silver holder. Only flowers that do well out of water for many hours are suited for corsages and boutonniers.