Rowan info
Nov. 24th, 2003 03:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
helen99http://sucs.swan.ac.uk/~pagan/rowan.html
Much interesting information about Rowan trees, including some mythological references across several cultures - Greek, Icelandic, Scandenavian, Scottish.
Apparently like Birch, it is among the first trees to grow - but it likes open air and light, and so when the other trees grow up around it, sheltered by it, they end up smothering it. Here are a few excerpts from the link above:
"...In ancient times, the rowan was referred to as the Tree of Life. Greek legend tells us that the birth of the rowan was precipitated by Hebe, daughter of Zeus and Hera, a youth Goddess who had the power to make the old young again. Hebe was cup bearer to the Gods, and lost Zeus's cup to a demon. The Gods sent an eagle to recover the cup, and in the ensuing battle, wherever a drop of blood or an eagle feather fell to earth, there grew a rowan tree. This is believed to be why the rowan has feathery leaves and berries like drops of blood.
In Scandinavian legend, the first woman was born from a rowan tree, and the first man from an ash tree. A rowan tree is believed to have saved the life of Thor, by bending over a river in which he was being swept to his death, and helping him back onto land.
In Icelandic myth, the rowan is particularly strong at the Winter Solstice. When it is bare of foliage and covered in frost, it appears to be covered in stars, expressing the outpouring of the spirit in the darkest part of the year. The myth of the star-dressed rowan possibly evolved from an ancient tradition of erecting moon-trees, covered with fruit and lights, and crowned with a crescent moon. A special star is said to glow atop these moon-trees, heralding the rebirth of light; this star was incorporated into Christian lore, and the star-clad rowan is thought to be a forerunner of the Christmas tree.
The red berries of the rowan tree have ensured that it is held in high esteem by many pagan traditions, for red food has been traditionally seen as food of the Gods. Many legends attribute magical properties to rowan berries - the Irish 'Quicken tree of Dubhous' was said to bear berries which could transform a man of 100 to 30 years of age, if three were eaten, and another Irish legend tells of a rowan whose berries could sustain one with the strength of nine meals. This tree was said to be guarded by a dragon. In yet another Irish tradition, corpses were staked with a rowan branch bearing red berries, in order to keep the ghost from wandering, and ensure that it passes comfortably to its new abode. "
Note - although this says that eating 3 berries makes a 100-year-old look like a 30-year-old, that may very well be through reincarnation. The berries (the seeds) are poisonous. (don't try this at home!).
Much interesting information about Rowan trees, including some mythological references across several cultures - Greek, Icelandic, Scandenavian, Scottish.
Apparently like Birch, it is among the first trees to grow - but it likes open air and light, and so when the other trees grow up around it, sheltered by it, they end up smothering it. Here are a few excerpts from the link above:
"...In ancient times, the rowan was referred to as the Tree of Life. Greek legend tells us that the birth of the rowan was precipitated by Hebe, daughter of Zeus and Hera, a youth Goddess who had the power to make the old young again. Hebe was cup bearer to the Gods, and lost Zeus's cup to a demon. The Gods sent an eagle to recover the cup, and in the ensuing battle, wherever a drop of blood or an eagle feather fell to earth, there grew a rowan tree. This is believed to be why the rowan has feathery leaves and berries like drops of blood.
In Scandinavian legend, the first woman was born from a rowan tree, and the first man from an ash tree. A rowan tree is believed to have saved the life of Thor, by bending over a river in which he was being swept to his death, and helping him back onto land.
In Icelandic myth, the rowan is particularly strong at the Winter Solstice. When it is bare of foliage and covered in frost, it appears to be covered in stars, expressing the outpouring of the spirit in the darkest part of the year. The myth of the star-dressed rowan possibly evolved from an ancient tradition of erecting moon-trees, covered with fruit and lights, and crowned with a crescent moon. A special star is said to glow atop these moon-trees, heralding the rebirth of light; this star was incorporated into Christian lore, and the star-clad rowan is thought to be a forerunner of the Christmas tree.
The red berries of the rowan tree have ensured that it is held in high esteem by many pagan traditions, for red food has been traditionally seen as food of the Gods. Many legends attribute magical properties to rowan berries - the Irish 'Quicken tree of Dubhous' was said to bear berries which could transform a man of 100 to 30 years of age, if three were eaten, and another Irish legend tells of a rowan whose berries could sustain one with the strength of nine meals. This tree was said to be guarded by a dragon. In yet another Irish tradition, corpses were staked with a rowan branch bearing red berries, in order to keep the ghost from wandering, and ensure that it passes comfortably to its new abode. "
Note - although this says that eating 3 berries makes a 100-year-old look like a 30-year-old, that may very well be through reincarnation. The berries (the seeds) are poisonous. (don't try this at home!).
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Date: 2003-11-24 01:05 pm (UTC)beautiful!
Date: 2003-11-24 01:26 pm (UTC)Re: beautiful!
Date: 2003-11-25 07:55 am (UTC)Re: beautiful!
Date: 2003-11-25 09:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-11-24 02:43 pm (UTC)