~Galatina Italy Rapeseed or Woad???????????? Rapeseed (Brassica napus), also known as rape, oilseed rape, rapa, rappi, rapaseed and (in the case of one particular group of cultivars, canola) is a bright yellow flowering member of the family Brassicaceae (mustard or cabbage family). The name derives from the Latin for turnip, rapum or rapa, and is first recorded in English at the end of the 14th century. According to the Wikipedia entry on Woad, the first archaeological find of woad seeds were found in the French cave of l'Audoste, Bouches du Rhone. It is reported that Julius Caesar spoke of ancient Britons going into battle naked and using blue dye derived from Woad in face and body painting to terrify their opponents during battle. In addition, the blue dye from Woad was used as a tattooing ink and medicinally as an astringent. I found this old song of WOAD using GOOGLE: Apparently the ancient Britons loved to freak out their enemies by charging into battle completely naked, covered in blue war paint and waving huge axes. While some might consider it lunacy to enter a fray butt naked, the sheer psych-out power of enormous blue naked guys running at you with stone axes is hard to beat. Most likely the Britons went to war skyclad mainly for religious reasons - any clothing would have obstructed their connection with the Goddess. The potency of blue-smeared nudity is celebrated in this, one of my favourite folk songs. It goes to the same tune as Men of Harlech. Woad What's the use of wearing braces, Hats and spats and shoes with laces? All the things you buy in places Down the Brompton Road What's the use of shirts of cotton, Studs that always get forgotten? These affairs are simply rotten Better far is woad! Woad's the stuff to show men! Woad to scare your foe men! Boil it to a brilliant blue And rub it on your back and your abdomen! Ancient Britain never hit on Anything as good as woad to fit on Neck or knees or where to sit on Tailors, you be blowed! Romans came across the Channel All wrapped up in tin and flannel Half a pint of woad per man'll Clothe us more than these. Saxons you can waste your stitches Building beds for bugs with breeches. We have woad to clothe us which is Not a nest for fleas! Romans keep your armours! Saxons your pyjamas! Hairy coats were meant for goats Gorillas, yaks, retriever dogs and llamas! Tramp up Snowdon with your woad on Never mind if you get rained or blowed on Never want a button sewed on Go it, ancient B's! - traditional

They don't make stores like this any longer -- Hambly & Innis is an old school men's clothing store where you can buy tweed jackets, cardigans, flannel pajamas and fedoras. The man who runs it is extremely nice.