rowan

   Also known as mountain ash, wittern, whitty, wiggen, and quickbeam, rowan was the tree most often credited with protective magical powers against all effects of *witch-craft, not merely in Celtic areas but throughout Britain (Opie and Tatem, 1989: 333-4; Vickery, 1995: 319-22). A correspondent from Westmorland in Hone's Table Book (1827: ii, cols. 674-5) says 'its anti-witching properties are held in very high esteem' in northern counties, where, to prevent spells on farm animals and butter-making, the churn-staff and the shafts of forks used in the cowhouse and stable must be made of its wood. The same was true in many other areas, as was the use of rowan wood for carters' whips, the pegs of cattle tethers, and cradles. In Lancashire, rowan twigs over the bed ensured peaceful sleep, i.e. repelled the *nightmare; in Yorkshire, looped twigs were hung on gateposts; in both counties, rowan wood was used to make *witch posts. In some North Yorkshire farms, the protective twigs over every door and bed, known as 'witch-wood', were annually renewed; one must cut them from a tree one had never seen before, and bring them home by a different route (Atkinson, 1891: 97-9).

   Oddly, some Lancashire people thought it an unlucky tree and would not have one in the garden, transplant one, or bring cuttings into the house; in such cases, its ominous white *flowers were more important than its *red berries.