Posies

Posies are small bouquets of flowers and herbs, traditionally carried, worn, or given as tokens. In Europe from the 16th through the 19th centuries, posies were popular as personal fragrances and symbolic gifts, and were sometimes carried to ward off illness with the belief that aromatic plants protected against disease. This folk belief is closely associated with the memorable phrase “a pocket full of posies” from plague-era lore, though its historical efficacy is unproven.

A posy may be a nosegay—a compact bouquet tied with ribbon—or a larger arrangement used at weddings, visits, and funerals. The choice of plants and flowers could convey messages or sentiments, and posies were sometimes exchanged with short inscriptions or wishes.

The term posy also denotes a short verse or inscription, a usage common from the 16th to the 19th century, especially on jewelry. A “posy ring” is an example, bearing a tiny motto or poem around the band.

Today, posies survive mainly in historical, literary, and ceremonial contexts, and the word is often regarded as archaic. In popular culture, the expression “pocket full of posies” remains a familiar though folkloric reference associated with scent, memory, and romance.