The Elder Mother

The Elder tree (Sambucus nigra) is a tangle of contradictions. Its flowers and berries are medicinal treasures, yet the wood is forbidden. In Danish folklore, the spirit of the tree is known as Hylde Moer (Elder Mother), and she does not take kindly to being cut.

Asking Permission

Woodcutters were warned never to take wood from the Elder without reciting a prayer: "Old Girl, give me some of thy wood, and I will give thee some of mine when I grow into a tree." Failing to ask permission invited disaster.

It was strictly forbidden to make a cradle from Elder wood. If you did, the Elder Mother would come and pinch the baby until it was black and blue.