Fennel Seed (Foeniculum vulgare)

The battle of Marathon was fought on a field named for fennel: marathon is the Greek word for the plant.

Origin & Traditional Use

Fennel is a tall, feathery herb of the Mediterranean whose seeds have flavoured bread, sausage and liqueurs for thousands of years. It was grown in every monastery and cottage garden of medieval Europe as a kitchen and household herb.

Uses by Tradition

Witchcraft & Folk Magick

• Midsummer protection: fennel was hung over doors and windows on Midsummer Eve against ill-wishing and witchcraft; seeds were stuffed into keyholes to keep spirits from entering.
• Courage: seeds carried in a pouch or chewed before facing something hard.
• Purification: seeds added to purification incense or a ritual bath.

A Simple Working

• On Midsummer Eve or a Sunday, set out a tablespoon of fennel seed, a pinch of salt and a short length of red thread.
• Mix the seed and salt in your palm, naming the doors you mean to protect.
• Put a pinch of the mixture into each keyhole or along the sill of each outer door.
• Tie the rest into a small cloth bundle with the red thread.
• Hang the bundle above the front door.
• Replace it the following Midsummer.

Pairs Well With

• St John’s wort, the other great Midsummer door herb.
• Rue for protection and banishing.
• Salt for warding thresholds.
• Red thread to tie protective bundles.

Lore & History

Fennel, as fille, is one of the nine sacred herbs of the Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm, recorded in a tenth-century English manuscript. Roman writers claimed that snakes rubbed against fennel to renew their eyesight after shedding their skins.

What You Receive

Dried fennel seed, available in 1 oz, 4 oz and 1 lb.