Symbolic of love, protection and fertility

The hawthorn is one of the three sacred trees of Ireland and Wales, the other two being the Oak, and the Ash

Hawthorn wreathes are left out as gifts to the fairies.

The crown of thorns was allegedly made from the twigs of a hawthorn

Hawthorn berries were used by the ancient Chinese to make fermented beverages.

Often known as the ‘Fairy Tree’.

Celts considered the hawthorn tree sacred

Hawthorn’s name derives from the Anglo Saxon word  ‘Hagedorn’ meaning hedge thorn

Farmers used hawthorn as a hedging plant in the middle ages to protect their livestock from witches

Berries from the Hawthorn are known as ‘haws’.

Hawthorn blossom is referred to as May blossom

Mayday garlands were made from hawthorn in celebration of a new spring

Hawthorn was laid amongst the joists of roofs long ago, to protect the house from lightening strikes

Hawthorn, if picked on the twelfth night, at midnight and placed in your home, was to bring good fortune and good luck

A twig of hawthorn was placed over a baby’s cot to bring good luck to the infant.

Hawthorn was believed to stand between this world and the other world

Hawthorn tree comes under the protection of the fairies and to cut one down brought bad luck unless it was for healing purposes.

There is a famous hawthorn tree at Glastonbury believed to have sprung from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea.

A coppice of sacred hawthorns once stood on the site where Westminster Abbey now stands and was known as Thorny Island.

Hawthorn is used as a divining rod

Hawthorns are known as ‘Clootie Trees’ when planted near wells, burial grounds, ancient springs, stone circles.  A small piece cloth was hung from the branch, to absorb the healing energies until such time the cloth rotted and fell from the tree, then the healing will have occurred.

Hawthorns can live for up to 400 years