According to the Christian Church calendar, the Virgin Mary was born on this day.

The Eve of the Festival of Venus was celebrated annually on this date by the ancient Romans. On this night, the goddess of love and beauty was honored and invoked with prayers, love songs, libations, and passionate lovemaking. It was also a time when sorceresses performed all forms of love magick and marriage-mate divinations.

Lavender promotes calm, relieves insomnia, and treats headaches - hence it's use in linen closets