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Happy Friday,
Elder (Sambucus nigra) crossed the boundaries between light and dark and life and death.
In pagan tree worship, the Elder was a being of magic and protection, but as Christianity swept away the idolatry of nature, it became a symbol of corruption.
People still remembered the old ways in rural and remote areas while observing the new traditions.
Elder was a tree of contradictions, being both revered and reviled throughout history.
The name Elder derives from the Anglo-Saxon geld, meaning fire.
The hollow stems of the young branches could kindle fire or be made into pipes, which led to its other names of ‘Pipe-tree’, ‘Bore-tree’ or ‘Bour-tree’; the latter name was used in Scotland and can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon Burtre.
In those times, the Elder was called eldrun, or ellhorn in Low Saxon.
Its Latin name Sambucus is mentioned in the works of Pliny and other ancient writers.
It may originate from the name of a musical instrument used by the Romans called Sackbut or the Greek Sambuca.
Quite a few authorities agree that Sambucus is likely an ancient derivation of pan pipes, particularly the pan pipes of Greece.
And that it is the wood used for the pipe of Pan, the guardian god of the forest and animals, whose spirit blows through the hollowed branches of the sacred tree and gives it the power to heal and teach.
Elder was believed to be a panacea, a cure-all in ancient times. The meaning of panacea was to be healed by Pan and by the power of the forest.
Pan’s wife, the lady of the underworld, also held dominion over the tree.
In some European traditions, she was the elder mother who had two faces of spring and winter and held power over life and death.
Her legacy is perhaps best reflected in more recent sayings about the Elder.
Mrs Grieve wrote that the English summer is 'not here until the Elder is fully in flower' and 'that it ends when the berries are ripe'.
In the Celtic Ogham alphabet, the Elder was associated with ruis, which means redness, which may have an association with the ripening of its dark purple berries bringing the seasonal cycle to a close.
- Try my delicious elderberry cordial recipe.
- Here's a summary of Elder's food and medicine.
- Elder, a foraging guide, includes a deep dive into its folklore, food and medicine.
Talk soon,
Robin
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