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- They Have Medieval Roots. A “tussie” is a nosegay, a Middle English word for a small group of flowers held together in a little bouquet and that was held at nose level; “mussie” refers to the moss that was moistened and put around the stems of the flowers to keep them from wilting.
- They Were Popularized by Queen Victoria. The term tussie-mussie (also tussy-mussy) dates back to the reign of trend-setter Queen Victoria (1837-1901), who was fond of carrying these little floral bouquets wherever she went.
- They Went Hand in Hand with Floriography. Tussie-mussies also became important vehicles for floriography (language of flowers), one of the Victorians’ favorite preoccupations that they elevated to an art form.
- They Were a Popular Gift for Courtship. It was common practice at the beginning of a relationship for the gentleman to give the lady a tussie-mussie, and she had to be careful about how she wore the flowers on her dress: If she pinned it to the “cleavage of bosom,” that would be bad news for him, since that signified friendship; tussie-mussies held pointing downward were also a sign of rejection.
Oct 13, 2016 · For 25 years, tussie-mussies have been the obsession of Irene Deitsch, whose book, Tussie-Mussies: A Collector’s Guide to Victorian Posy Holders, was recently published by Marene Press. “A ‘tussie’ is a nosegay, which is a Middle English word for a small group of flowers held together in a little bouquet,” Deitsch says, explaining the etymological origins of this curious-sounding ...
Apr 21, 2020 · During the Victorian era tussie-mussies were carried close to the nose to ward off the stench in the streets and the plague and were composed primarily of scented herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and rue. The small tapered metal vase that holds small bouquets is now sometimes called a tussie-mussie, as are the fragrant flowers in the vase.
Jun 15, 2021 · Tell the wish of thy heart in flowers.”. Victorians could send their heartfelt, coded messages in “Tussie Mussies”, small, fragrant nosegays of carefully chosen flowers and herbs, tied with lace, ribbon, or wrapped in doilies. As described in Tussie-Mussies: The Language of Flowers (Laufer, 2000), the name likely originated from the ...
Jun 30, 2023 · Antique Trader says of the word’s derivation: A “tussie” is a nosegay, a Middle English word for a small group of flowers held together in a little bouquet and that was held at nose level; “mussie” refers to the moss that was moistened and put around the stems of the flowers to keep them from wilting. Hence the name “tussie-mussie.”.
The history of Tussie Mussies stretches back further than that. A tussie mussie is a small flower arrangement of fragrant herbs and blooms. Originally meant to protect the wearer from noxious odors produced by the poor bathing and sanitary conditions of former times, it remained popular for its charm. The allure of an aromatic nosegay became ...
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Mar 9, 2023 · Cut the stems to the length of the other flowers and wrap these accents into the little bouquet with the floral tape. Continue adding greenery and smaller flowers until the tussie-mussie has a rounded shape. Wrap the stems in tape. From time to time, check to make sure the bouquet will fit in the posy holder. 6.
