The Faerie Tree

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As we have already covered, the Hawthorn tree has a rich history in Irish folklore. The Celts believed they were sacred and always left one in the centre of a field they were clearing as a sign of respect. This would create the curious myth of fairy trees in Ireland and the reverence around them that still exists today. Sister stands in her window, hands over her belly like Mary finding out her son’s gonna die. I look at her and I think of the faeries, and I feel mean as a razor. “I ain’t going in,” I say. “I won’t. I’m gonna sleep here tonight.” Irish folklore tells us that the Fairy trees are a gateway for two different worlds to collide. These two worlds are the mortal world and the Otherworld of fairies. The trees and forts act as an entrance from one world to another. The Fairy Faith It makes sense that the Celts actually created fairy trees. Their custom of leaving a tree in the centre of fields to honour the circle of life created the mysterious lone fairy tree that we know today. Of course, this is only one of many theories, but it seems to make perfect sense. What do you think? The Interesting History of Hawthorn Trees

The Tuatha de Danann were conquered by the mortal tribe known as the Milesians. After the battle, the Milesians remained above ground while the Tuatha de Danann retreated underground through borrows, hills and burial grounds called ‘Sidhe’. The great thing about travelling around Ireland is that everywhere you turn, you will uncover a tale of wonder. The fairy trees of Ireland are fascinating, and there are plenty of them just waiting to be found. A lone hawthorn tree or fairy tree Fairy was used to represent: an illusion or enchantment; the land of the Faes; collectively the inhabitants thereof; an individual such as a fairy knight. [3] Faie became Modern English fay, while faierie became fairy, but this spelling almost exclusively refers to one individual (the same meaning as fay). In the sense of 'land where fairies dwell', archaic spellings faery and faerie are still in use.

I ain’t scared of the faeries no more, and they never do speak, but I learned they get loud when my heart does, so I try to feel quiet. The night air is warm and the breeze is cool. I breathe deep and stare at the dark. Fireflies float everywhere, winking like the stars I can’t see through the branches. I don’t want to face Sister’s husband in the morning, but I know I have to. I don’t much like the idea of him sleeping on the same floor as me, but Sister will protect me if it comes to anything. Pregnant or not, Sister’s always stood up for me.

The Church may have considered such strong approbation of the elder to be necessary because the tree was especially revered for its mystical and medicinal powers. Elder, which gave its name to the ogham letter R, ruis, is a symbol of regeneration and rebirth. It is the tree of Samhain, the end of the agricultural year and the beginning of the new. Elder puts out shoots at its base, rejuvenating itself, and grows easily from cuttings. This made it a powerful symbol of the cycle of life, death, and rebirth for our ancestors, and elder is often found in graveyards, where it was planted and crosses made of its wood were placed on new graves to help the spirits cross over. Fairies are often said to possess magical powers and can bestow blessings or curses upon humans. They are known to engage in both benevolent and generous acts, depending on their mood and the actions of humans. What?” It’s like he cut my strings the way my body goes loose, and I think if I’d been standing I would’ve fallen on the floor. Sister don’t move, don’t come and put her arms around me. I stare up at the Sheriff. It don’t make no sense. “They . . . they died? How?” The use of fairy lights adds an ethereal glow to the tree, symbolizing the presence of the unseen realm. It is believed that the twinkling lights attract the attention of fairies and offer a guiding light for them to navigate the human world. The act of adorning the Fairy Tree with these lights is seen as a gesture of goodwill and an invitation for blessings and protection from the fairy folk. Fairy Doors The faeries pinwheel around but hover close, like they’re waiting. The one on my knee reveals teeth like a shark, but its voice rings out clear as a sweet, tiny bell. “What do you want, and what will you give in exchange?”When I get up I don’t smell cooking, but I’m so tired I don’t notice. I put on a sundress and wash my face and go to the kitchen and realize Momma’s not at the stove like always, and Pa’s not at the table with his coffee. There’s no one in the kitchen but Sister, whose hands are in her lap at the table, and the beanpole, who’s halfway on the side porch with the Sheriff. This single tree would become the Tree of Life which the Celts believed possessed supernatural powers. The greatest triumph one would have against their enemy was to chop their tree down. It was considered the most offensive act to do to your enemy, as the tree was sacred. There are many stories about certain trees, but few have survived in modern times. Nevertheless, the belief that removing this tree would enable the conflicting fairy armies to find a common ground halted road works as recently as 1999. The evergreen yew with dark green, poisonous, needle-like leaves and red berries has commonly symbolized death in classical antiquity. [10] It is still commonly planted in Christian churchyards and cemeteries.

The wee folk had many entrances to the otherworld such as in burial mounds, underwater, and the base of Fairy trees. As you can imagine, these gateways are extremely important for the movement of the wee folk so they are heavily protected by magic. You wouldn’t be considered mad if you just so happened to spot a Pooka or Leprechaun at a Fairy tree. However, it may bring strange looks by the locals who prefer not to speak of such places. Superstitions surrounding Fairy trees These three trees are very different characters in our folklore. Time and time again in the old stories, they are the interface between human-world and fairy-world. But they are not just some fancy notion or ancient wisdom now lost. These trees are real and alive and flowering somewhere near you this springtime. You don’t need to be on Dartmoor or in other wild and wonderful places, they are also common trees in towns and cities.

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If the faeries can’t save ’em, they’ll save Sister or I’ll kill him myself. Come nightfall that man will be gone. The flowers of all three trees provide nectar for a variety of insects, including many moth caterpillars; hawthorn alone supports more than 300 species of insect. The flowers also are an important source of pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinating insects. Birds and small mammals such as voles and dormice eat both the flowers and the berries, and deer often graze rowan leaves.

The Milesians were Gaels who sailed from Hispania to Ireland after hundreds of years travelling around the earth. The Gaels were originally from Ireland and wanted to return to the home of their ancestors. These are just a few places in Ireland that you can visit to find some magical Irish Fairy trees. Remember not to disturb the trees, and you may even be granted with good fortune for respecting them.In Old French romance, a faie or fee was a woman skilled in magic, and who knew the power and virtue of words, of stones, and of herbs. [3] They’re banging and hollering at the floor, bunch of menfolk all angry at the hysterical girl making their jobs harder. I say goodbye to the only parents I’ve ever known, even pray like they’d want, then I open the trapdoor and lower the stairs and come down, and I go to my room. Beanpole wants to have words with me, but it ain’t his place. He ain’t my sister, and he ain’t my parents. I try to breathe easy. “There’s a man killed my parents, hurt my sister, and got her pregnant. I want him dead yesterday before dark. I want every trace of him gone. You get rid of him, I’ll give you the baby.” It’s his, probably wrong as its pa, and I know Sister ain’t wanted kids ’til later anyway. No, you come here and get it. Now. I mean it, Marianne. I’m in charge now, and I don’t want you catching cold.” When I don’t budge, he tries for sweet, and it works. “You wouldn’t want to disappoint your Momma, now would you?”