Re: First visit to Avebury - question | Forum

First visit to Avebury — question

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tjj Aug 29, 2012 13:18:12

Replying to marinade

marinade wrote:

Hello. First post in this bit of the forum.

I visited the Avebury area for the first time the other week. Taking the path over Waden Hill to Silbury Hill, I passed a tree festooned with ribbons. I just wondered what the significance of this tree is.

Ta.

Hello and welcome to the Forum. I know that tree quite well - it's a hawthorn I believe and yes, for some reason people have tied ribbons to it. They do the same to an oak on the path up to West Kennett Long Barrow and also over at Swallowhead Springs. Why? I don't know, some sort misguided neo-pagan custom I should think. I don't mind really ... live and let live, me.

tjj Aug 29, 2012 13:25:49

Replying to tjj

tjj wrote:

marinade wrote:

Hello. First post in this bit of the forum.

Ta.

Would like to just add that trees are considered sacred by pagans, druids and lots of other people who don't necessarily call themselves anything - the hawthorn, oak and willow (the trees chosen) are all said to have certain spiritual attributes. I think the ribbons are something to do with healing.

Emma A Aug 29, 2012 14:30:26

Replying to tjj

They do it at Nine Ladies too and sometimes leave messages - prayers I suppose - a bit like lighting a candle in a church.

I think Scottish healing wells are called Clootie wells where people tie things to the trees nearby:
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/6458/clootie_well.html

And some trees get coins pressed into the bark like the wishing tree in Argyll. A friend of mine says he often finds coins in the hollows of standing stones (especially in the Peak District), but I've never found any. Anyone else?