From The Food Encyclopedia by Jacques Rolland and Carol Sherman
From the same family as oregano, an ancient herb, Origanum marjorana, a Greek symbol of joy and happiness; its name from the Greek oros, meaning "mountain", and ganos, meaning "joy." Marjoram is either sweet, the more common variety, or wild, which has a more delicate flavor. It was such a good little plant, legend has it, that no one who had sold himself to the devil could abide it, which may have come from the belief that if marjoram grew well upon a tomb, the deceased was happy. A Latin myth about Venus wandering on Mount Ida, picking wild marjoram to heal Aeneas' wounds, led to the fashion of using the herb for cosmetic purposes. It was also believed that marjoram was a transfiguration of a handsome youth once in the service of King Cinyrus of Cyprus. One day, he dropped a vessel of sweet perfume. In terror of displeasing the king, he swooned into unconsciousness and changed into a sweet marjoram plant, which graced the palace thereafter. Another myth professed that, if you anointed yourself with marjoram before going to sleep, you would dream of your future spouse. Marjoram was used in Colonial America as a tea, a seasoning, a snuff and to dye woolens purple and linens reddish brown. See also oregano.
