It’s bad luck to buy, make or use a new broom in May because:
Sweep with a broom that is cut in May
You’ll sweep the head of the house away.
But you can give good luck to a friend by leaving a branch of hawthorn flowers on the doorstep. But other woody messages were not so friendly according to traditional verses:
Alder for a scrowler; pear for the fair
Nut for a Slut; plum for the glum
Bramble if she ramble; gorse for the whores
It is basically rhyming slang, so no great wisdom involved, also I’m not sure quite how some of the rhymes work, and it does seem rather at the expense of women.
Yes, women are often the butts of these sorts of sayings.
Wishing you a grand summer with great curious groups of fun people!
thank you – I’ve been with one group for a few days and very nice people!
I’m sure they love you like we all did!