In Celtic folklore, the Cailleach emerges at Samhain to take over the year from the summer goddess Brighid. Cailleach – the goddess of winterīlackthorn is also often associated with the Cailleach, the goddess and ruler of winter. The logo of the Boston Celtics, for example, portrays a leprechaun leaning on a shillelagh. The wood of the blackthorn is traditionally used in Ireland to make shillelaghs, a walking stick-shaped club, originally used as a weapon to settle a score and now a symbol of heritage among many people of Irish descent throughout the world. So this may be the safest time to pick sloes or cut the wood. The Lunantisidhe only leave the tree at Esbats (on a full moon) in order to pay homage to the moon goddess. They are not friendly towards humans on the best of days but should you try to cut wood from the blackthorn on the festivals of Samhain or Beltane they will surely curse you. In Irish folklore, the blackthorn is guarded by the spiky fairy-folk known as the Lunantisidhe, literally meaning moon fairy. Its closest modern equivalent would be the letter z. Ss Straif, is the 14th letter in the ogham alphabet. So, why does the blackthorn have such a dark reputation? Blackthorn guarded by unfriendly fairies The berries, leaves and bark of the tree are said to stimulate metabolism, clean the blood, heal stomach upsets and disperse toxins from the body. Sloe berries can be very carefully picked during October, after a frost, and used to make sloe gin, a mixture of sloes, sugar and gin left to mature for nearly three months to be enjoyed as a yule tide treat. It is a haven for birds such as the, now rare, nightingale who find protection amongst the tree’s long thorns. The blackthorn is often associated with overcoming obstacles for a better future or protection and hope in the midst of devastation. The Origins of the Ogham alphabet are still a mystery for many historians, but it is primarily thought to be an early form of the Irish written Language. Ogham, the mysterious language of the trees
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