In medieval Europe, it was widely held that where sage grew in the garden, the wife ruled the roost. Given a spot as a companion plant to rue, sage was thought to possess the ability to protect its bedfellow from poisonous toads and the property owner from evil spirits.
The success or failure of the plant to thrive was also considered a barometer of its owner’s prosperity. The herb was so highly regarded as a keeper of home and heart that the 16th century German theologist Martin Luther is attributed with saying, "Why should a man die when sage grows in his garden?" This sentiment is shared in an old English proverb that advises, "He that would live for aye, Must eat Sage in May."
