humble hawthorn bloom
by Sarah Das Gupta
ancient Christmas message
crown of thorns awaits
The Glastonbury Thorn is associated with the Grail Legend and the story of Joseph of Arimathea’s visit to Glastonbury. The legend tells of Joseph climbing Wearyall Hill and planting his staff in the ground where it rooted and grew into a thorn tree which blossomed twice, once at Christmas and once in spring. Written versions of the story did not emerge until the 13th century. In 1520, a pamphlet by Richard Pynson was published, ‘The Life of Joseph of Arimathea’. In 1647, during the English Civil War, the tree was chopped down and burnt as a symbol of superstition. A tree was planted on the hill in 1951 and again in 2010 but both were vandalised. The same fate has met subsequent efforts.
Trees now exist in the nearby Churchyard of St John’s which were budded or grafted from previous specimens. If grown from the haw(fruit), they do not produce a ‘true’ sapling. A sprig in bud is traditionally presented to the reigning monarch at Christmas. The winter flowers are smaller than the summer blossom.
The hawthorn has long been associated with supernatural and magical powers. Particularly in Ireland, lone thorns are seen in the middle of fields, in hedgerows, near places of religious significance and farmers will not cut them down. They have been associated with fairies and the border between this world and the mysterious ‘other’.
| Botanical name: | Crataegus Monogyna biflora |
| Popular names: | holy thorn, fairy thorn, hawberry, maythorn, mayflower |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Origin: | Native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere- Europe, Asia, North Africa, North America |
| Flowering: | December and May |
| Habitat: | Undemanding – rocky crevices, exposed sites |
Further reading:
‘Glastonbury, Myth and Archaeology’, Philip Rahz, 2003, Tempus Publishing Ltd.
‘Glastonbury, Maker of Myths’, Frances Howard-Gordon, 1982, Gothic Image Publications Ltd.
Author bio:
Sarah Das Gupta is a young 81 year old. Loves writing haiku and most forms of poetry. Is learning to walk after an accident. Main outside interests include equine sports. Lives near Cambridge, UK. Read other sciku by Sarah here.