Sunday 5 November 2017

Steve's Nature Quiz #23

In last week's #CreteNature blog we found a beautiful ivy hedgerow buzzing with life. Ivy has been associated with the Winter solstice since pagan times but in Germany they traditionally tie it to the outside of a church. Is this to protect it against

a) the devil

b) lightning

c) witches


Somewhat surprisingly the answer is lightning. Why this should be is a matter of speculation; perhaps someone observed that ivy covered trees did not get struck by lightning so often as bare trees? A similar thought was held by the druids who believed that Ivy's Christmas counterpart, Holly, if self seeded near a dwelling, would protect the inhabitants from fire, nightmares and, once again, lightning.

More seasonal nature notes and other trivia in this week's #CreteNature blog: The Springs of Paraspori
at
Labels: , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Recent Posts

  • Messengermire Wood
      Just to the north of Bassenthwaite lake lies Messengermire Wood. Who the messenger was, and whether he got sucked into the mire, is a t...
  • Mugwort - The Smokers' Alternative - Silloth West Beach
      We're off to Silloth West Beach today, in search of a somewhat drab looking plant called Mugwort. Drab it may be, but it is the first ...
  • Fly Feet and Lizards' Ears
    It’s once more into the ditch dear friends this week as we descend into the valley depths and continue our journey up the river bed. It...
  • Fell Walking For Wimps 1 - Slate Fell
    Twenty years or so ago, if I saw a hill, I felt an irresistible urge to climb it. Now, older and wiser, I have come to re...
  • Steve's Nature Quiz #17
    Is Turkey Tangle Frogfruit effective against a)    suppurating sores b) stones c)  the common cold According to Sanskrit literat...