Why Dressing the Well?

I grew up in Yorkshire, England, just across the border from Derbyshire. In each of the small villages of Derbyshire there is a well dating back to times when that was the source of water for the village.

When the Black Death (plague) came to the area, in 1348, a small village, Eyam, had an outbreak and imposed a quarantine on themselves to protect the surrounding villages and help prevent the plague from spreading. Many of the villages that survived the Black Death were thankful that their water sources had remained 'pure'. As a sign of thanksgiving in the summer they would "dress" their well, which involved leaving flowers and greenery as offerings. 

This is a detail showing the petals

Later this evolved into making beautiful pictures of bible passages using flower petals, and the practice continues today. 

So, as I try to live a life of gratitude and thanksgiving, I consider myself to be "dressing my well." Please join me.