(Monk's hood, Aconitum napellus, is today's plant, dedicated to St Dunstan, whose feast day this is.)

Dunstan (909 ? - May 19, 988) was an Archbishop of Canterbury who was later canonized as a saint. He gained fame for the many stories told about his cunning in dealing with the Devil ...

Dunstan was famed for his cunning in dealing with Satan. In one celebrated incident, he used a red-hot pair of tongs to pinch the nose of the Devil when he tried to tempt him in the form of a girl. For many years the tongs were on display at Mayfield, England. From this tale, tongs have become a symbol of St Dunstan and are featured in the arms of Tower Hamlets.

Another story relates how Dunstan nailed a horseshoe to the Devil's hoof when he was asked to reshoe the Devil's horse. The Devil was only allowed to go once he had promised never to enter a place where a horseshoe is over the door. This is claimed by some as the origin of the lucky horseshoe ...