The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-08-30
FOLKLORE OF TREES.
Plant and Tree Worship in European
Countries.


Plant and Tree Worship in European
Countries.
Among many primitive nations there
was widespread belief in the person
ality ct plants, and superstitious fear
of these spirit-haunted trees. The
Objibways believed that the trees had
souls, and even fancied they could hear
their wailings when mutilated. and the
same idea is often met with i'll the
mythology of Greece and Rome. IL an
old Swedish legend we are told that n
juniper tree said to the woodman
about e. fell it: Friend, do not hcw
me-" and when this command was dis
regarded, blood flowed from tie wound
made by the Ak. According TO Grimm,
moicrn folklore still tells us that
''when the alder feels the woodlands
2x it blceds. ,vceps and dies"
In ancient Germany the elder tree
was held in great esteem. as 1t was
thought to he the home of the "Mothcr
of the Elves" a belief akin to this Is
to be found in English folklore, where
the oak was thought to be the home Of
wood spirits. aud holes III the trees
were the doors where they went in and
out It was considered an act OF sacri-
lcge to mutilate or cut down one OF
these trees. In India the people point
ont the holes in oak trees as the splr-
It's pathway. The Westphalian peas
ants also believed in these tree spirits.
and whenever any member OF the fam
ily died were accustomed TO announce
the death Of the nearest oak. They
have also curious belief that when
the Wandering Jew" shall find two
oaks growing in the form OF cross he
| may rest.
Traces OF plant and tree worship may
still be found in some parts OF Europe
and many of the old beliefs have
crossed the sea and come down to our
own times. An old woman once showed
me twig of mountain ash that she al
ways carried in her pocket to keep of
the witches" | did not then know
! that our mountain ash is but another
name for the poets Rowan tree, nor
the popular belief that "Witchcs have
no power where there is Rowan-tree
wood" There is an Aryan tradition
that this tree sprang from the light
ming, and hence it's mystic properties
In some parts Of England this tree is
planted near dwellings to protect fron
witches and the "evil eye" For the
sa1uc reason an ash twig is used to
drive cattlo, and in Scandinavia the
branches are put over the stable door
to protect the cattle from the same
! balcful influence.
Among some sailors there is belief
that if Rowan-trec wood is used about
a ship it will surely sink unless the
evil spell is connteracted by having
juniper on board. On the other hand,
there is an Icclandic superstition that
! if the two woods are In the same house
1t will burn down The Rowan-tree is
not the only one feared by witches In
some parts of England it is thought
that branches of tho plum tree nailed
above the doors will insure the safety
Of the inmates, and in India an olive
branch which has been blessed is used
| Tor the same PURPOSE
Trees play an important part in the
Biblical folklore of plants, and one
| writer on this subject says: The cross
of our blessed Lord may be said to
fling its shadow over the whole vege-
table world 1t has long been a dis
putcd question as to what tree shall be
ascribcd the doubtful honor OF furnish
| ing wood for the cross. SirJohn Mande-
vile saws 1t was made Of cedar cypress,
palm and olive, while Bede gives lis
pine and box in place of the two latter.
The gipsics think it was Of ash, and
very general superstition is, that it was
made from the aspen, whose leaves
have since that time trcmbled with
shame and sorrow. Others say it was
made from the fig tree that the Saviour
cursed There is also legend that
cedar was cut by Solomon and buried
in the pool of Bethesda. This was
found floating in the water and taken
by the Jews to form the cross.
Among Biblical folk tales we have
one that tells us that the elder was the
tree on which Judas in despair hanged
himself, and for this reason it is be-
lieved to have special attraction for
suicides. In Swabia. Christ's crown is
said to have been made from black
thorn, and Swedish legend says that
the dwarf birch furnished the rod with
which he was scourged.
During the flight into Egypt the pine
protected the Holy Family from lIerod's
soldiers, a hazel from the lightning,
and juniper gave them shelter. Popu-
lar belief makes the wild carob the tree
on which John the Baptist fed when
'his meat was locusts and wild honey"
The pomegranate was long reverenced
among the Persians and Jews as the
tree bearing the forbidden fruit given
by Eve to Adam. and there is also ira
dition that after the expulsion from
Egypt they clothed themselves in the
leaves of the banyan tree. One might
study these legends Indefinitely, for in
the whole vegetable kingdom there is
scarce q tree that has not some super
stition attached thereto. journal OF
Education.
On the Smoker.
Although she had evidently tried hard
to conceal the fact, she was really
woman From the tip of her square