A garden of Christmas herbs is a charming way to share the season with a friend. Take the herbs from your own garden in the fall and set them into an indoor decorative arrangement for the winter; they provide the foundation for a new herb garden for your friend in the spring.

Herbs have long been valued for their flavor, aroma, or medicinal properties – but this only begins to explain our fascination with the individual herbs that have taken on a symbolism of their own. Herbs, through the centuries have acquired meanings specifically related to Christmas.

Rosemary is the principal herb of Christmas and a symbol of remembrance. According to legend, rosemary once had only white flowers. During the flight to Egypt, the Holy Family took shelter near the fragrant shrub. After washing Baby Jesus’ swaddling clothes and her own blue cloak in a running brook, Mary spread the garments on the fragrant branches of flowering rosemary to dry. When she removed the garments, they had taken on the fragrance of the herb, and the white flowers had changed to blue. During the Middle ages, sprigs of rosemary were placed in babies’ cradles to insure safe, peaceful sleep.

• Rue is a symbol of virtue. It has been reputed to banish evil spirits and to bestow second sight.
• Thyme is considered a manger herb and is a symbol of courage, activity, and bravery.
• Alpine strawberries are symbols of true worth, the blossom a symbol of foresight, and the whole plant a symbol of perfect excellence.
• Sage is symbolic of domestic virtue and immortality.
• Horehound, one of the bitter herbs of Passover, was thought also to have been mixed with the sweet herbs and grasses of the manager.

Materials you will need for your basket of Herbs:

• Several different cutting of fresh herbs
• Sphagnum moss
• Basket
• Plastic bowl to line the basket

About six weeks before the holidays, take cuttings of the herbs from outdoors. Soak the moss in some water. Place the plastic bowl in the basket. Fill the bowl with the wet moss. Set the cuttings 1 inch to 2 inches into the moss. Add a cutting of twining ivy or nasturtium, or perhaps a bow to the handle of the basket.

Attach a small tag of care instructions to the gift baskets, including the following information: the cuttings will do better in a cool, sunny location. Mist the garden daily. A light fertilizing with a water soluble fertilizer every six weeks is also helpful. The cuttings should take root by spring. The to start your own garden outside, pull the herbs gently from the moss and place in pots. When the plants are strong and healthy, usually in three to four weeks, they can be transplanted into the garden.