Birch

According to Scandinavian mythology, the Birch was consecrated to the god Thor, and symbolised the return of Spring. The Greeks and Romans had not much knowledge of the tree, but the latter seem to have regarded it with a feeling of dread in consequence of the fasces of the magistracy being composed of it, as now, says Evelyn, “are the gentler rods of our tyrannical pedagogues for lighter faults.” According to Pliny, the celebrated books which Numa Pompilius composed seven hundred years before Christ, and which were buried with him, were written on the bark of the Birch tree.

It is in the northern countries of Europe that the Birch flourishes, and it is there the tree is held in the highest esteem. The Russians have a proverb that the Birch excels in four qualities: it gives light to the world (with Birch-boughs torches are made); it stifles cries (from Birch they extracted a lubricant which they apply to the wheels of carriages); it cleanses (in Russian baths, to promote perspiration, they scourge the body with branches of Birch); it cures diseases (by incision they obtain a liquor stated to have all the virtues of the spirit of salt, and from which a wine is distilled, excellent as a cordial and useful in cases of consumption). Moreover, in Russia, the oil of the Birch is used as a vermifuge and a balsam in the cure of wounds. No wonder then, that the Russians are very fond of the Birch and surround their dwellings with it; believing, as they do, that this tree is never struck by lightning.

On the Day of Pentecost, it is a custom among young Russian maidens to suspend garlands on the trees they love best, and they are careful to tie round the stems of the Birch-trees a little red ribbon as a charm to cause them to flourish and to protect them from the Evil Eye. De Gubernatis quotes from a Russian author named Afanassief, who tells us of a Birch that showed its appreciation of the kindly attentions of a young girl in decking its stem, by protecting her form the persecutions of a witch, who had become her step-mother; and the same author makes mention of a certain white Birch, which grew in the island of Buian, on the topmost of whose branches it was currently believed the Mother of God might be seen sitting.

 

Grohmann, a German writer, recounts the legend of a young shepherdess, who was spinning in the midst of a forest of Birch trees, when suddenly the Wild Woman of the forest accosted her. The Wild Woman was dressed in white, and had a garland of flowers upon her head: she persuaded the shepherdess to dance with her, and for three days kept up the dance until sunset, but so lightly that the grass under her feet was neither trampled upon nor bent. At the conclusion of the dance, all the yarn was spun and the Wild Woman was so satisfied that she filled the pocket of the little shepherdess with Birch leaves, which soon turned into golden money.

Professor Mannhardt, says De Gubernatis, divulges to use the means employed by the Russian peasants to evoke the Lieschi, or Geni of the forest. They cut down some very young Birch trees and arrange them in a circle in such a manner that the points shall be turned towards the middle: they enter this circle, and then they call up the spirit, who forthwith makes his appearance. They place him on the stump of one of the felled trees, with his face turned towards the East. They kiss his hand, and, whilst looking between his legs, they utter these words: “Uncle Lieschi, show yourself to us, not as a grey wolf, not as a fierce fire, but as I myself appear.” Then the leaves of the Aspen quiver and tremble, and the Lieschi shows himself in human form, and is quite disposed to render no matter what service to him who has conjured him – provided only that he will promise him his soul.

De Gubernatis relates one other anecdote respecting the Birch, which he says to the Esthonian is the living personification of his country. It is related that an Esthonian peasant noticed a stranger asleep beneath a tree at the moment when it was struck by lightning. He awoke him. The stranger, thanking him for his good offices, said, “When, far from your native country, and feeling sorrowful and homesick, you shall see a crooked Birch, strike and ask of it: ‘Is the crooked one at home?’ “ One day the peasant, who had become a soldier, serving in Finland, felt dispirited and unhappy, for he could not help thinking of his home and the little ones he had left behind. Suddenly he sees the crooked Birch! He strikes it, and asks: “Is the crooked one at home?” forthwith the mysterious stranger appears and, calling to one of his spirits, bids him instantly transport the soldier to his native country, with his knapsack full of silver. 

In France, it was in medieval times the custom to preserve a bough of the Birch as a sacred object. In the country districts around Valenciennes, it is an old custom for a lover to hand a bough of Birch or Hornbeam over the doorway of his lady-love. In Haute Bretagne, as a charm to strengthen a weakly infant, they place in its cot Birch leaves which have been previously dried in an oven. There is an old English proverb; “Birchen twigs break no bones,” which has reference to the exceedingly slender branches of the tree.

In former days, churches were decked with boughs of the Birch, and Gerarde tells us that “it serveth well to the decking up of houses, and banqueting rooms, for places of pleasure, and for beautifying of streets in the crosse and gang (procession) weeke, and such like.” According to Herrick, it was customary to use Birch and fresh flowers for decorative purposes at Whitsuntide:

“When Yew is out, then Birch comes in,

And many flowers besides;

Both of a fresh and fragrant kinne,

To honour Whitsuntide.”

The Scotch Highlanders think very highly of the Birch, and turn it to all sorts of uses. With Burns, the budding Birch was a prime favourite in the Spring-time. The Scotch proverb, which says of a very poor man that he is “Bare as a Birk at Yule e’en,” probably refers to an old custom of stripping the bark of the tree prior to converting it into the Yule log. The tree known in the Highlands as the Drooping Birk is often grown in churchyards, where, as Scott says, “Weeps the Birch of silver bark with long dishevell’d hair.” In Scottish ballads, the Birch is associated with the dead, and more especially with the wraiths or spirits of those who appear to be living after death. The following is a good example:

“I dreamed a dreary dream last nicht;

God keep us a’frae sorrow!

I dreamed I pu’d the Birk sae green

Wi’ my true love on Yarrow.

I’ll redde your dream, my sister dear,

I’ll tell you a’ your sorrow;

You pu’d the Birk wi’ your true love;

He’s killed, he’s killed on Yarrow.”

The Birch tree is held to be under the dominion of Venus

Source : Plant Lore, Legends and Lyrics – 1892 – Richard Folkard