Calendar

Hawthorn has a lot of superstitions surrounding it. Many believe it to be unlucky and my own family would not allow a branch of it in the house. Often called the May Tree, it has natural associations with Beltane and the blossoms were worn in the May Queen’s hair. Hawthorn is associated with the goddesses Flora and Maia. Hawthorn is also one of the nine woods put on the Belfire / Balefire at Beltane.

Other Correspondences

•          Bird: Night Crow
•          Colour: Black
•          Gem: Lapis Lazuli
•          Element: Fire

Herbal Uses

Use only mixed with other herbs!

•          Use the leaves with another favourite herb as a purifying tea
•          Wear the flowers (or put in a pouch) if you are a woman wishing to attract a man
•          The berries are good for heart problems
•         The young leaves can be eaten in salads

Magickal Uses

Use hawthorn in spells for fertility, purification, chastity, cleansing and happiness.

•          The flowers are supposed to attract the Fae
•          Put leaves under the bed to protect virginity (or just say no?)
•         Hang Hawthorn branches over cow byres to keep the animals healthy and ensure lots of milk
•         Hawthorn hung from the chimney can protect from lightning

An old folklore tradition is that hawthorn can promote a youthful appearance:

At dawn on Beltane, a young woman who wants to remain beautiful for the rest of the year should go and bathe in the dew of the hawthorn tree and chant:

“The fair maid, who on first of May,
Goes to the fields at break of day,
And bathes in the dew of the Hawthorn Tree,
Will ever strong and handsome be”.