Pink May blossom

Anybody else's mother not let the children bring this into the house?

?

Never heard that before Wagger. Lovely blooms Toto

Extracted from http://www.new-age.co.uk/celtic-festivals-beltane.htm "May blossom symbolises female fertility, with its creamy/ white, fragrant flowers. Hawthorn blossom was worn during Beltane celebrations, especially by the May Queen. It is believed to be a potent magical plant and it is considered unlucky to bring the blossom inside the house, apart from on May eve".
There's lots more about the folklore attached to the Hawthorn at http://www.whitedragon.org.uk/articles/hawthorn.htm
I don't subscribe to these ideas myself but do find it interesting and have seen Hawthorn extract in Holland & Barrett.

Very interesting. I wonder how this type of lore ever developed in the first place?

Hi Toto - yes heard that expression Wagger refers to , have you heard of the Glastonbury hawthorn ? Reputedly brought here by Joseph of Arimethea from the Holy land he stuck his wooden staff in the ground and a hawthorn has grown on the site ever since and flowers at Christmas.

The ring of thorns worn by Christ at his crucifixion was of hawthorn - due to this many religious followers believe it to be a sign of impending death if brought into the home.

There are villages not too far from us that still practise maypole dancing - more pagan in origin to do with fertility , not just of the land ...ermm leave the rest to your imagination lol.

I understand your meaning. Ever read "The Da Vinci Code"?

No..not read it but have seen a documentary all about it....

It's worth a read. It's not heavy and although it's obviously fiction there are certain elements of truth in it.