![]() I’m now wondering if they use hawthorn flowers…). (May pole decorating and dancing still happens in Sweden. Hawthorn is also known as the May tree, and its blossoms are traditionally used in garlands to decorate the top of may poles. Due to this, hawthorn is used in fairy magic and can be used to detect magic. Hawthornįairies are said to live in hawthorn hedges, especially if near ash or oak. It is also used in magic concerning sleep and dreams, and power transfer (represented, I believe, in the continuous battle of the Holly King and Oak King).įun fact: the Swedish word for holly is järnek, which literally translates to “iron oak”. So it’s perhaps unsurprising that holly is used in magic for protection against all sorts of ills (evil spirits, poisons, angry elementals and lightning). Odin’s sacred spear was made of holly, and the Roman god of war, Mars, is said to reign over the wood. The Holly King battles and defeats the Oak King every Midsummer and reigns until Midwinter. Holly is one of the most sacred trees in the Druidic tradition. Hazel promotes love and creativity, and is also used in spells surrounding navigation, protection, visions, and inspiration. Hazel nuts are said to feed the Salmon of Knowledge in Irish lore, and hazel wood is one of the most common used to make magical wands. The tree is associated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite and the Celtic goddess Arianrhod. Hazel is connected to knowledge and wisdom, and to beauty and love. So I thought it would be fun to look at the main characters in Hazel and Holly and investigate their real-world magical counterparts. But even in the real world, many trees were once believed (and continue to be believed in certain circles) to hold magical properties. Honestly, the naming convention is a result of the story stemming from a post written for the A to Z Challenge last year, which I then took and ran with and started posting on the blog. The first half of that story takes place in a woodland area, and then we have the names of many of the characters based on trees and flowers. The Hazel and Holly story is a little bit of both. ![]() My stories often take place in woods or forests, or even if they don’t, trees will often sneak in somewhere to play a significant part (like in The Forgotten Web). If you’ve read any of my stories, then you probably already know how much of a part nature plays in them.
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