For the Greeks, it was said that basil "exists only to drive men insane." Later, though, basil became a symbol of love in Italy, and it has retained that symbolic meaning ever since. In the folklore of Moldavia, a young man who accepts basil from a young woman is destined to fall in love with her. Spring dried basil near your desk or tie it in a drawstring bag with some pennies to draw luck to your money and business matters