Cabbage Lore and Legend
Greeks and Romans placed great importance on the healing powers of cabbage, thinking the vegetable could cure just about any illness.Roman mythology holds that cabbages sprung from the tears of Lycurgus, King of the Edonians. Emperor Claudius called upon his Senate to vote on whether any dish could surpass corned beef and cabbage. (The Senate voted a resounding nay!)
Egyptian pharoahs would eat large quantities of cabbage before a night of drinking, thinking the consumption would allow them to drink more alcoholic beverages without feeling the effects. Perhaps this is why many consider cabbage with vinegar as a good hangover remedy.
Captain Cook swore by the medicinal value of sauerkraut (cabbage preserved in brine) back in 1769. His ship doctor used it for compresses on soldiers who were wounded during a severe storm, saving them from gangrene.
Let us not forget more recent legends such as children being told babies come from cabbage patches, and the Man in the Moon who was allegedly banished to his remote abode on the moon after being caught stealing a cabbage from his neighbor on Christmas Eve.
Eating cabbage or other greens is considered good luck on New Year's Eve by many because the green leaves are representative of money.
More about Cabbage:
• Cabbage Cooking Tips• Cabbage Varieties
• Cabbage Selection and Storage
• Cabbage Measures and Equivalents
• Cabbage History
• Cabbage Legend and Lore
• Cabbage and Health
• Popular Cabbage Recipes
• Cabbage Recipes
Photo © 2006 Peggy Trowbridge, licensed to About.com, Inc.
