The Rowan Tree: A Symbol of Protection
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Many of our native trees have a special association with Anglo-Saxon paganism. In this week’s post, Dr. Orton investigates the rowan tree. Part of our Trees and Anglo-Saxon Paganism series, in which we explore the links between our native British trees and Anglo-Saxon paganism!*
This series is more academically dense than some of our other posts. For a quicker, more accessible read, take a look at our posts about our baby tawny owls, polecats or animals that live in our woods at night!
Rowan trees (Sorbus aucuparia) can grow to be fifteen metres tall and live for up to 200 years. You’ll recognise them by their smooth, silver-grey bark and purple, hairy leaf buds. Rowan flowers (which contain both male and female reproductive parts) have five creamy-white petals.
Another name for rowan is “mountain ash” because it grows well in the mountains and its leaves are similar to ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior; the two are not related). They both have pinnate leaves—a compound leaf structure where multiple leaflets are arranged in two rows on opposite sides of the stalk.
However, as the Woodland Trust points out, “Leaves are arranged alternately though you may have to look really closely as at a quick glance they may look like they’re opposite.”
Mature rowan trees are also smaller than ash trees and ash trees have shiny black buds in winter, whereas rowan trees have brown buds. Also, whereas Ash seeds are winged “keys,” whereas rowans produce red berries. Rowan trees do not get ash dieback disease (although they can be harmed by other diseases).
Rowan leaves are food for the Welsh Wave and Autumn Green Carpet caterpillars, and caterpillars of the Apple Fruit Moth feed on its berries. Rowan berries are especially popular with Britain’s thrushes (and ex-thrushes! The redstart is no longer classified as such and loves rowan berries)—the blackbird, mistle thrush, redwing, song thrush and fieldfare!
Humans eat rowan berries too, although they need to be cooked first—common uses are jams, jellies and drinks. Always consult a reputable foraging source before you try this yourself!
The Tree of Protection
The rowan tree is associated with protection in Norse mythology. The Skáldskaparmál in the Prose Edda, which explains kennings (metaphorical phrases) in Norse poetry, says that rowan tree is referred to as “Thor’s saviour” because it saved Thor god of thunder from drowning in a fast-flowing river:
“When Thor came to mid-current, the river waxed so greatly that it broke high upon his shoulders. Then Thor sang this: ‘Wax thou not now, Vimur, For I fain would wade thee/Into the Giants’ garth: Know thou, if thou waxest, Then waxeth God-strength in me/As high up as the heaven.’ Then Thor saw Gjálp, daughter of Geirrödr, standing in certain ravines, one leg in each, spanning the river, and she was causing the spate. Then Thor snatched up a great stone out of the river and cast it at her, saying these words: ‘At its source should a river be stemmed.’ Nor did he miss that at which he threw. In that moment he came to the shore and took hold of a rowan-clump, and so climbed out of the river; whence comes the saying that rowan is Thor’s deliverance.”
As mentioned in other blog posts, we don’t have a lot written down when it comes to Anglo-Saxon paganism, but the association of rowan with protection is a long-standing one in England as well as Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The Pitt Rivers Museum has three loops of rowan tree from Yorkshire, which were amulets against witchcraft, ghosts, fairies, spirits, and the Evil Eye.
In the 1850s, folklorist Edwin Lees described how residents of the Wyre Forest in the West Midlands believed the rowan tree to be protective against witches.
In other British traditions, the rowan tree was used in counter-magical protection—particularly against witches or lightning strikes. Scottish folklorist Walter Gregor noted that rowan was used against witches in Scotland.
According to naturalist Oliver Southall, rowan might be used “as a household amulet to against curses or the evil eye, in charms carried on the person to ward off magical harm and in devices used to protect livestock and animal products from animal theft.” In Celtic tradition, says Southall, rowan could ward off fairies who might steal the nutrients from milk, or even snatch people.
“Flying rowans” are thought to be especially powerful. These are trees that grow epiphytically (on the surface of another plant).
Our Rowan Trees
We’ve planted quite a few rowan trees in the native woodland we started from scratch and they’ve been thriving! Rowan trees are “pioneer species,” meaning that they are among the first to colonise new environments and create the ideal conditions for other trees to live.
Pioneer species can make the conditions safe for other trees to live—so in this sense, rowans certainly live up to their reputation for protection!
In our next post, read about the yew tree in Anglo-Saxon paganism! You can also read our posts on ash, oak and birch trees!
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If you’d like to learn more about the history of medieval England, take a look at our intellectual and cultural history course, The Medieval Period—or our interdisciplinary course, Culture and Conservation, in which you can explore the links between culture and wildlife all over the world. Alternatively, if you’re interested in religion and folklore, take a look at our Anthropology or Religious Studies courses.
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Dr. Orton also explores seasonal links with Anglo-Saxon paganism in her post about the pagan festival of yule.
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Do More
For those who would like to take action to preserve our wild spaces, there’s plenty you can do. Find out how we started our wildflower meadow, how we created a wildlife pond and how we are planting a native woodland from scratch! Even if you don’t have a big garden, there are plenty of things you can do to help biodiversity in your area. Why not put up a solitary bee nesting box or insect home, create a woodpile as a habitat for small creatures or leave small areas of your garden to go wild?
You can also support the Woodland Trust’s work to stop ash dieback.
Think about your own area and how you can protect vulnerable but important parts of your own environment. You might even want to start your own project investigating the cultural importance of wildlife in your area. Dr. Orton works with independent scholars undertaking their own research for an independent project, people writing a book or simply those who have a personal interest. Click the link to find out what it’s like to work with her and contact us to get started!
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* The first post in this series serves as a caveat for the historical claims in the following posts, as well as the use of certain terminology (“Anglo-Saxon” and “native”).