By: Amots Dafni and Saleh Akel Khativ
Medicinal sage (this species is very close to sage and has very similar medicinal properties) was considered a first-class medicinal plant, so much so that in the Middle Ages a proverb was common in southern Italy that meant: "How can a man die while sage grows in his garden?" This proverb was translated to Israel and is presented in a local version that we have not found a reference to elsewhere: "He who has sage under his hand keeps illness away from his home."
Excessive drinking of sage infusion causes constipation. According to the testimony of Dr. Yaakov Perbstein of Poria Hospital, occasionally people come to the hospital suffering from intestinal blockage as a result of drinking too much of triple sage infusion. Hence the proverb "All evil comes from sage."
About a person who has been given a role greater than his stature, they say: "A stick is never made from a triangular sage" – Umru ma naamal min al-ja'asas masas/minsas (عمره ما نْعَمَل من الجعساس مسّاس/ منساس). This refers to a mallet. The masas is the stick that the farmer holds while plowing. In one hand he holds the plow handle and in the other the masas. The masas has two functions – on the one hand it is used to stimulate the animal and on the other hand a kind of scraper is installed on it to clean the plow blade. A triangular sage is never pressed enough to be made into sticks from it.
A version of the previous proverb is common in Galilee, "You cannot make a stick from sage" (ما بنعمل من الجعساس مسباس). The meaning is that one does not expect greatness from the descendants of a certain person. The branches of sage are soft and it is never possible to make a proper stick from it that is hard and strong enough.
Sage against the evil eye
When examining the ceremonial uses of the triple sage among Muslims in Israel, it becomes clear that it is used as a main ingredient in rituals to mark significant stages in the human life cycle. Sage, like other aromatic plants – myrtle, rosemary and basil – is known for its ability to expel evil spirits. This was well summed up by Yosef Nimer Nasser Abu-Lutuf from Sakhnin in the Lower Galilee: "They put triple sage near the house and then the devil cannot enter. The plant keeps the devil away from the house. The sage is sacred and has a good smell. Once a week, they go around the house and make incense from sage around the house to expel all evil spirits."
The importance of the triple sage in the human life cycle has been summarized by various people in the following statements: "Placing triple sage on graves is a connection that exists between birth and death"; "The triple sage accompanies a person in all stages of his life." Since people are vulnerable to the evil eye, especially during transitional stages of the life cycle, it is customary to use various means to expel the evil eye. Therefore, it is not surprising that sage is used in these rituals. A bundle of sage placed at the foot of a sacred tree receives the blessing of the righteous person whose soul resides in the tree. Such sage has greater power than ordinary sage branches.
Whoever placed the wreath will one day find it in its place, because one does not take other people's belongings placed under a sacred tree, for fear of the terrible punishment that awaits a thief from the righteous person to whom the tree is consecrated.
Birth, celebrations and weddings
When a baby is born, it is placed on a bed of fresh sage leaves and the mother drinks an infusion of this plant, which is contrary to the instructions of folk medicine. It is accepted that sage infusion reduces the amount of milk in the mother (S. A. H., personal knowledge). On that occasion, a special ceremony called Mawlid (birthday) is held. During which a lamb is slaughtered and friends and family members are invited, and the sheikh reads verses from the Quran. A tray is placed next to it on which sage leaves are mixed with oats or barley. Each guest then takes a handful of the mixture in a small bag. At home, this mixture is used to make incense that is known for its properties against the evil eye and demons.
It is placed on burning coals, the house is blessed with a good smell, and all evil spirits disappear and are no more. At every wedding and other family celebrations, incense is burned from sage leaves, as mentioned against the evil eye and to expel demons. Similarly, among the Bedouins in the Lower Galilee, they dance before the bride with branches of sage and olive as a good sign and against the evil eye. In various places in the country and among various ethnic groups, a dough is prepared at a wedding with olive branches, pomegranate flowers, basil leaves, sage leaves and coins. The bride sticks the "garland", khamiriya (yeast), to the door of the house, when she enters the house for the first time after the wedding ceremony.