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Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Hawthorn
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 The Hawthorn is so widely associated with Beltane that in much of the Celtic world it is called May. In Brittany, they call it Whitethorn in Brittany. The red fruits of the hawthorn are known as Pixie Pears or Cuckoo's Beads. During Medieval times in Brittany, a man would propose marriage by leaving a hawthorn branch at the door of his beloved on the first day of May. If the branch was allowed to remain at her door, it was a signal that the proposal was accepted. If it was replaced with a cauliflower, the proposal was turned down. In Brittany and Ireland the hawthorn, also known as the fairy-thorn, is a tree held in very high favour. It is thought to be highly dangerous to gather even so much as a single leaf "from certain old and solitary thorns which grow in sheltered hollows of the moorlands" for these are the fairies' trysting-places. The wood of the hawthorn makes the hottest fires and thus is an excellent fuel, once considered better than oak for oven heating, according to Grieve's Modern Herbal. Culpeper's Complete Herbal says that the distilled water of hawthorn will draw out splinters or thorns. A tincture of the berries has been used in a tincture (5 -12 drops daily, three times a day) for a cardiac tonic. An infusion of the flowers, just as the buds open, is a mild tonic for the heart when 2 tablespoons of the buds are added to one cup boiling water and taken twice a day. (always consult your physician for cardiac care!) Bridal Lore and Customs: http://www.novareinna.com/festive/bridal.html The Folklore of Plants by by T. F. Thiselton-Dyer: http://www.archive.org/stream/thefolkloreofpla10118gut/10118.txt http://www.dutchie.org/Tracy/trees/celtic_tree_hawthorn.html Hawthorn plaque created by Fedelm Cruithni especially for the Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt. |
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~ Table of Contents ~
Feverfew
Lavender Ladybugs Thyme Bay Laurel Mint Answers to Spring Equinox Quix Dandelion for Spring Tonic Sun-Infused Calendula Healing Salve Fiddleheads Nettles for Spring Daffodil Quiz Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: THE SACRED OAK Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: VERVAIN Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08: MARIGOLDS AND MAIDENS Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08: THE CHARM OF IVY Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: GREEN WHEAT EARS Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: FLAX BLOSSOMS Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08 - GARLIC Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: EGLANTINE Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Mystic Mistletoe Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Magical Fern Seeds Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: APPLE |
