The Pagan Heart
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March-June 2006 Issue
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Herbs Under Scrutiny: Hawthorn: The Mayflower
By Jill Bentley
Okay, so we made it through April showers (or those of us lucky enough to live in warmer climates) and are now headed to Mayflowers. Ever wonder what those Mayflowers are? What if you've got allergies? If that's the case May is probably not a month that you enjoy. But for the rest of us 'normal' people, we want our share. Or do we? The official May flower is the Hawthorn, a short tree or shrub with beautiful fragrant blooms and thorns. That's right, thorns. Doesn't sound very Mayish does it. When I think of newborn babies and spring weddings, thorns don't come to my mind. If they creep into yours, there's meds for that. On one hand we have these wonderful mystical blooms that have played a role in many cultures across the ages, on the other hand we have these thorns that have played their own roles that seems completely opposed to the blooms they guard. The complex contradiction can be both fascinated and frustrating. I'll explore both natures of this unique tree and you can pull what you will from it. Before getting into all of the history, legends, and myth let's look at what most agree on. Hawthorns can live for 400 years and are native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia: from 200 to 2,000 varieties depending on who you ask. Every part of the tree can be used in some way. The wood makes the hottest wood-burning fires, but is also used in small wood projects: combs, boxes, etc. The flowers need to be gathered before full-bloom in dry sunny weather, these blooms can be used in dried arrangements, in folk-cures, oils and fragrances, on salad, and more. The berries are small red fruit-like apples but not as sweet (just what I've heard I've yet to get my hands on some), and can be eaten fresh or made into compote, jelly or marmalade, used in folk-cures, or even made into a liquor (I'll pass this recipe on later). Even the leaves are used in making a herbal green tea and the seeds can be roasted and used like coffee. Medical uses of this versatile plant concentrates mostly on the heart. Hawthorn makes a great heart tonic. It increases strength, circulation, and lowers blood pressure. Through out the ages Hawthorn has been prescribed to any with a weak or inefficient heart. It has other uses as well - helping with diarrhea, fever, sleeplessness, dizziness, throat and teeth problems, and depression. With so many varieties the Hawthorn has accumulated many folk names. Here are just some: whitethorn, fairy bush, Mayblossom, Mayflower, May bush, Hagthorn, tree of Chastity, and Haw. Notice the 'May' that keeps cropping up. So what's Hawthorn's connection to May? The big spring celebration is Mayday. Back in the day it was a celebration that probably honored the sun god Belenus, a Celtic god, which started on the same day the Hawthorn blooms opened. Later this day got anchored to May 1st. This opening of the blooms signaled the change of season, the ending of winter, and the return of the sun. During the party there was usually a dance around a may pole that are at least decorated with Hawthorn if not made from the tree (they are small trees hence the pole would not be very tall). To the Celts the Hawthorn was very important, ranking right up there with the ash and oak. This idea is expressed in the ritual words: "by oak, ash, and thorn." Hawthorn is also connected to fairies (you might have noticed the folk name: fairy bush) in Celtic lore. They are said to mark fairy trysting places, guard wishing wells, guard portals to the fairy realm, and those who braid the flowers together into crowns and leave them for the fairies will gain blessings. But never cut down a blooming Hawthorn as that will just piss the fairies off. The blooms are said to heal a broken heart. The leaves can be used as charms of protection, especially for children. Any part of the tree can be used in spells for protection, love and marriage, health and prosperity, purification, fertility, chastity, intuition, and cleansing. Other cultures had other ideas for the Hawthorn tree. The Turks saw it as an erotic symbol as the blooms were said to smell like an aroused woman. The Greek and Romans saw it as a symbol of hope and marriage. They used a crown of blooms for the wedding couple. In the Christian tradition it is thought that St. Joseph's staff was made of Hawthorn and the Burning Bush that talked to Moses was a Hawthorn. But on the opposing side Christ's crown of thorns was made from a Hawthorn and so some see the plant as bad luck. You starting to see the contradictions? It gets worse. While one culture believed that a branch over the door will keep out bad spirits another culture used Hawthorn as a funeral pyres to assist the souls of the dead to the next world. One side saw it as protective while the other side saw it as a symbol of death and/or bad luck. Regardless as to the kind of luck you see the Hawthorn bringing you the tree will be forever wrapped in contradictions. So this month I'm giving you two recipes: one that is light and fluffy and one with some thorn (bite) to it.
Wash berries, put in large pot and add enough water until covered, and then cook until very soft. Drain and mash the berries, and then strain through muslin. Add 1 cup sugar to resulting juice, bring to boil until setting point is reached (sugar will be dissolved), pour into bottles and seal.
Rinse and dry the berries and fill 2/3 clear glass jar. Cover with vodka and close jar with tight lid. Let them steep for 5-6 weeks - in dark place at room temperature, shaking lightly and tasting from time to time. Strain and filter into another glass bottle with tight lid. Store and let age a couple of months - again in a dark place at room temperature.
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