Craaegus spp.
Other Names Whitethorn, Hazels, Gazels, Halves, Quickset, Bread-and-Cheese Tree, Albesyne, L’Epine Noble, Hagedorn, Hedgethorn, Fairy Bush, May blossom, May Bush, May Flower, Quick, Thorn, Haw, Hag Thorn, Ladies Meat, Tree of Chastity, May Tree
Hawthorn Berries and Powder Profile
Description
This is a tree that will grow to a height of 30-40 feet. The fruit is a bright red to dark purple that is enjoyed by many birds. The white clumps of flowers give off a faint smell of rotting meat and it is fertilized mainly by carrion insects. The leaves are oval shaped, sharply toothed and alternate.
History and Folklore
The botanical name Crataegus oxyacantha comes from the Greek kratos, “hardness”, oxcux, “sharp” and akantha “thorn”.
In Teutonic lore, hawthorn symbolized death and was used in funeral pyres.
In ancient Greece, married couples were crowned with hawthorn blossoms and the wedding party carried torches of hawthorn. The tree was also associated with Cardea, the Roman Goddess of marriage and Childbirth.
During springtime festivals in England, large Hawthorn boughs were cut and stood up in the ground outside houses. They were called May Bushes and decorated with wildflowers. Although it was permissible to decorate outside with hawthorn blossoms, bringing them into the home would surely bring illness and death.
This tree was considered beloved by fairies who lived within. Cutting down a Hawthorn tree is very bad luck!
Propagation
Hawthorn is a deciduous tree that can grow in most temperate climates. It is tolerant of most soils, but prefers moist, alkaline soils.
Harvesting & Storage
Harvest the fruit in early autumn and spread out to dry or make into wine or jam.
Flowers can be harvested in May and dried in the sun. Leaves can be harvested any time. Be sure to ask permission and leave an offering.
Collect fallen limbs after storms to use for carving or making wands.
Magical Attributes
Gods associated with this tree are Belenus, Cardea, the White Goddess, Hymen, Maia and Flora.
It is considered masculine, associated with Mars and fire.
Hawthorn is a sacred tree in many Pagan religions. The blossoms, called May Flowers, are used in spring celebrations. The May Pole is traditionally made of hawthorn or decorated with hawthorn flowers. As the tree is sacred to fairies, one must ask permission before taking the blooms or sprigs and must certainly leave an offering when cutting down a whole tree.
Placed around doors and windows, hawthorn will prevent people from entering your home in an astral state. It will also prevent spirits from entering a place. Planting hawthorn around other trees, or near your home is said to protect them from lightening strikes. Planting it as a hedge around your home will keep out unfriendly spirits. Adding hawthorn to an amulet will protect you from spirits and harmful magic.
Thorns can be used to mark wax, to write with magical ink, or to fix something for magical purposes.
The phrase “by Oak, Ash and Thorn” referred to Hawthorn (the Thorn part) used in blessing and ritual. These three trees were considered portals to the realm of the fae.
Hawthorn is associated with love, marriage, health, fertility, chastity, protection and death.
Household Use
The wood of the hawthorn tree has a fine grain and takes polish well. It can be used for carving and making wands. It produces a very hot fire when burned.
Healing Attributes
The bark of the hawthorn tree can be used as a sedative, anti-spasmodic, diuretic and to help regulate blood pressure. It is used as a heart tonic and for kidney troubles.
The flowers and berries are astringent and can be used for sort throats.
Use a decoction of flowers and leaves to stabilize blood pressure.
Culinary Use
A tasty liquor can be made from the berries. Both the blossoms and berries can be made into wine and jellies.
Hawthorn leaves can be eaten and were once referred to as bread-and-cheese.
See Also
You can Print this page for your Book of Shadows
Do you have a question or something to add?
Yes, what kinds of offerings should I leave when harvesting from this tree?
Milk, honey, wine or cider poured into the ground, baked goods, crystals and gemstones are all suitable.
Thank you.
many of the folklore seems contradictory…
would it be good to use this for charms in fertilility, marriage and childbirth? or would it jinx those things?
I don't see any contradiction. I think it clearly states that Hawthorn can be used for blessing of just about any transition when gathered and used properly and that it is bad luck to gather it and use it in a way that offends its guardians.
Different folklore from different cultures sometimes seems contradictory because they're different. Honestly, it's about what you believe and what your relationship with the plant is.
When trimming this tree, after leaving an offering, what's a good use for the debris and cuttings? Seems like when I wait around until it's dry to burn in a bonfire, I forget where or what it is I have laying in the pile.
If you aren't going to use Hawthorn for spell work, you can compost it. You can also use it for rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. to chew on.
I think I may have made a mistake, before realising the significance of hawthorn in this realm I recently cut limbs to use the berries and leaves of my neighbors hawthorn. I did not ask permission or make an offering, and in mediation last night felt I needed to cleanse the lens etc before I could use them. how can I do this or rectify this. I'm a herbalist completely new to alternative considerations but am very own minded. thank you.
No worries. Just go back, explain the situation and leave an offering.
leaves I mean
A farmer I know recently felled about 6 hawthorn trees. He's a good man, just didn't know. I know these trees - I harvested and have used in tinctures, haws from them. He has given me the downed trees. I spoke with them a fortnight ago, and left offerings. I'm going this weekend to bring the timber home with me. I plan on using the bark for medicine and the wood for various projects, including wands, walking canes and perhaps a staff or two if the shape and size of the boughs is appropriate.
Do you have any suggestions as to other things I can do, or any other thoughts? Thank you.
Thinner branches can be used to make wreaths to hang on doors, and branches that are too thick for wands but too thin for staves can be cut into thin slices to make oracle tiles/ rune "stones". Save some of the thicker pieces to make candle holder for ritual, you can leave them round, or split them down the middle and drill holes in to fit your desired candles, decorate with greenery/flowers appropriate to the Sabbat. Slices of wood can also be woodburned with symbols to make attractive and protective decor.
Can the wood be used to make an alter
Yes
Can I make a pentagram to hang on my door with the brances?
And does anyone have a recipe for wine or jam please?
many thanks and blessings. x
sure you can make a pentacle out of branches. You can do ingredient searches on many recipe sites.
I just came across this huge hawthorn tree in a cemetery I frequent. It's literally COVERED in thorns, from one branch to the next, there's not a single spot without thorns. This tree has to be over 200 yrs old. I unwittingly decided that it was the coolest tree I had ever seen, and harvested some thorns and a single branch from it. I did not ask permission! I knew the rule but, in my excitement, completely forgot! Let me tell you… This tree is QUITE active for its age. It didn't even dawn in me that I hadn't asked permission til I got home, popped the trunk, and pulled the bunch of twigs out. One of the thorns grazed my palm just barely touching it, and it ignighted like a match in my hand! Literally felt like I had lit a candle and held my palm over it. It was just for a brief second, but I was jolted. That's when it hit me, OMG I forgot to ask for this, I basically stole it! Not even a half an hour later I had this splitting headache that wouldn't quit no matter how much Tylenol and ibuprofen I threw at it. It went on for hours!
Needless to say that tree got me good! And I guess I deserved it. She's a mean old sucker! I went back the VERY next day. I didn't hesitate, I apologised, and left an offering of wat I had on me at the time. I knew nothing of the hawthorn tree until tonight when I found this page and a couple others.. Wow! I knew when I saw this tree that it was magnificent. I just had no idea how truely powerful and crazy cool it really was…. I now have a humbling respect for trees, more so than before!
Sometimes new relationships start badly, but she'll likely be a friend to you now that she's got you sorted.
I had no idea I'd been living by hawthorn trees. I started a campfire in the woods once, using some of it without any consideration, and when I got home I noticed a thorn jutting out from my large toe. For being embedded half an inch, it scared me far more than it hurt. Though it's been years, I think I'll go back and make amends. Any ideas?
Baked goods, honey, milk and sweet wines and liquors seem to be well received.