Hawthorn
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Hawthorn is a species of small tree so common in our lanes and hedgerows that my readers need no introduction to it. Country people often call it the May tree, for it generally blossoms in that month. The flowers are a creamy white; the haws, when they first appear, are green, but quickly take on a tawny and at last a brilliant red hue. They are a favourite of birds, and it is said that in times of dearth people too have eaten them; but few care to make the experiment today.
There are, as is generally known, many superstitions pertaining to the hawthorn and especially to the inadvisability of bringing its blossom indoors for fear of 'bringing death into the house'. Conversely, among the Romans the hawthorn was believed to protect against all witchcraft, especially the Evil Eye. The tree planted at Glastonbury by Joseph of Arimathea was a species of hawthorn. In short the hawthorn is one of those trees which anciently were widespread in England, in the days before the great forests were reduced to humble woodlands. Its place in English magic is therefore unsurprising. It is said that hawthorn will 'answer any question'[35].
Lastly it is, of course, a hawthorn which serves as a gallows for Vinculus.
There are, as is generally known, many superstitions pertaining to the hawthorn and especially to the inadvisability of bringing its blossom indoors for fear of 'bringing death into the house'. Conversely, among the Romans the hawthorn was believed to protect against all witchcraft, especially the Evil Eye. The tree planted at Glastonbury by Joseph of Arimathea was a species of hawthorn. In short the hawthorn is one of those trees which anciently were widespread in England, in the days before the great forests were reduced to humble woodlands. Its place in English magic is therefore unsurprising. It is said that hawthorn will 'answer any question'[35].
Lastly it is, of course, a hawthorn which serves as a gallows for Vinculus.