Quots. 1846, 1860, and 2002 explain the rationale behind this proverb and also the parallel saying when the furze is in bloom, my love's in tune.
When whins [gorse] are out of bloom, Kissing's out of fashion. ‥Whins are never out of bloom.
[1846 M. A. Denham Proverbs relating to Seasons, &c. 12]
‘When the gorse is out of bloom, young ladies,’ quoth Sir Giles,‘then is kissing out of fashion!’‥There is no day in the year when the blossom is off the gorse.
[1860 G. J. Whyte-melville Holmby House I. iii.]
‘What's that old jingle about the gorse?’‥‘When the gorse is out of bloom, kissing is out of fashion.’
[1974 A. Dwyer-joyce Brass Islands 175]
Gorse can be found in flower at all seasons, hence sayings like ‘When gorse is out of season, kissing's out of fashion’, but in winter it yields no scent at all.
[2002 Country Life 9 May 128]
Related to: love, prosperous
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs. Copyright © 1982, 1992, 1998, 2003, 2004 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
