Hawthorn
Shakespeare's Hawthorn: "Through the sharp Hawthorn blows the cold wind." King Lear, Act III, Scene 4
It blooms the beginning of May, when Spring is passing into summer, and is also known as May, May Tree, May Bush, May Blossom and Queen of May. It is associated with the heart, protection, fertility and love.
This hawthorn was the fairy tree on Hill of Tara but split and decayed over several years. Read more about the tree at Faery Tree - Hill of Tara
Centre:
Creating a centre inside? You are unlikely to use hawthorn flowers. It was considered extremely unlucky to bring Hawthorn flowers inside the house, as it was a portent of illness and death. Botanists have discovered that the chemical trimethylamine in Hawthorn blossom is also one of the first chemicals produced when an animal body starts to decay.
| Lughnasadh focus on hawthorn berries and rose hips. |  |
Creating a centre outside? Now you can celebrate the whole tree.
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Prayer:
Honourable Hawthorn, full of ease, all beings respect you. Blessed are you amongst the trees of the woodland and blessed are your blossoms and fruit. We thank you for your presence throughout our lives and for reminding us of our moment of death.
Wear something white:
Bealtaine – fresh green leaves and foliage burst forth in hedgerows and fairy hawthorn trees' white flowers form drifts across the land, as if the snow had returned. Under the still bare woodland canopy peaceful bluebells nod, releasing a subtle scent. Most flowers bloom in the Spring and our attention is heightened as they call to us for admiration and praise. Read more about colours and the seasons here... Colour
Treasure:
The fairies nearly always hide their gold under a hawthorn bush, inspiring us to consider what treasures are we hiding?
You may write on a tea candle one word that recalls that treasure then light the candle and watch the flame as you invigorate your hidden treasure and share it with the universe.
Choose 4 different coloured ribbons to tie on your May Bush (see below). Pick up 3 and consider what they represent to you, what gift or skill that you have. Now pick up the 4th ribbon and consider what you are hiding, something you do not share. Consider what you would like to find, about a situation, about yourself, something that maybe you do not wish to share. Finally, tie all four ribbons of the bush and remember that 'what will be will be'.
Bringing in the May:
As recounted above it is said to be unlucky to bring hawthorn into the house. However... this is from the Duchas School's Project.... Bringing in the May
On the eve of the 1st of May the man of the house brings in some branches of hawthorn. This is known as "bringing in the May". It is not considered lucky for any female bring the "May" in. The branches of hawthorn are left in the house until the end of the month, and then they are burned.
May Bush:
This gorse served as our May Bush at Bective in 2012. Go to Pishogues for May Eve & May Day to read more about yellow flowers at Bealtaine.
- You can introduce yourself to the bush / tree by giving it some water.
- Tie a ribbon (degradeable) on a branch of the tree, asking that the summer be fine and growth and crops abundant, or that something in your life may blossom and bear fruit.
- Put some yellow flowers in it's branches.
These quotes from the Duchas School's Project give ideas of how we can celebrate with a May Bush.
On the eve of May day a May bush is made. It is erected in honour of the Blessed Virgin.
A white thorn bush is got and (with) wild flowers are tied to it in small bunches with coloured ribbons. Sometimes a picture of the Blessed Virgin is hung on it. This is a very old custom.
On May day morning the person who is up first places it in front of the door or over it. Long ago people believed that no thunder nor lightning nor evil spirits would interfere with the house that had a May bush placed before it.
Long ago the May bush was set on fire and the people would dance round it and pass the young children through the smoke to protect them from the power of witchcraft.
Another custom of "May day" is the making of the May "tree". This was done by cutting the branch of a lone bush and by putting a primrose on every thorn of the branch.
