R – RUIS - Old Irish, which means ‘red’ – ELDER
Also known as: Old Mothers, Elder Witches, Burtree Witches, Old Women of the Elder Tree, Old Gals.
The Elder tree is associated with Samhain, October or November time and intensely associated with regeneration and new beginnings.
Each part of the elder has been used in many different ways across cultures and history. And it divides human opinion, as some see it as a large and intrusive weed with a foul odour, whilst others prize it for the cordial, wine and preserves that can be made from its berries and flowers, and the medicinal quality of its natural produce. Wood from the elder tree lends itself well to the making of whistles, pipes, chanters and other musical instruments, as the branches contain a soft pithy core which is easily removed to create hollow pipes of a pale, hard, easily-polished wood.
The aroma exuded by the elder’s leaves has long been known to repel flies, so this folklore may have been borne out of the need to keep such insects, and the diseases that they carried, away from the kitchen and food. Bunches of leaves were hung by doorways, in livestock barns, and attached to horses’ harnesses for the same reason. Elder was traditionally planted around dairies and it was thought to be efficacious in keeping the milk from ’turning’. Cheese cloths and other linen involved in dairying were hung out to dry on elder trees, and the smell they absorbed from the leaves may have contributed to hygiene in the dairy.
The bark and roots once used to tan leather and as a fabric dye and the Romans were said to use the juice as a deep purple black hair dye. The parts of the tree used for dying were important to the Harris tweed industry, with blue and purple dyes being derived from the berries, yellow and green from the leaves and grey and black from the bark.
But it is for its medicine and as an edible that Elder is most prized. Elderberries have long been known as the ‘medicine chest of the country people’ and were traditionally used to treat an incredible range of illnesses from flu to bronchial problems, inflammatory conditions, blood circulation problems and sciatica to name just some examples. There is a growing contemporary evidence base for elderberries’ inhibitory effects on multiple different strains of flu; increasing cytokine production which enhances the body’s immune healing response to infection. Elderberries are used for making syrup, tinctures, jams and more and are very high in Vit C.
It is important to stress that the raw berries can be emetic (inducing vomiting) and irritant if eaten in large quantity and they contain cyanogenic glycosides that can produce harmful cyanide. This is particularly potent in green parts and seeds – so it really is essential to separate unripe berries and stems from ripe berries before use. However, at a low pH when fermented as vinegar the cyanide potential is destroyed, and at temperatures above 26°C cyanide evaporates. So, heating, cooking or fermenting are safe ways to prepare ripe elderberries
A couple of cups of hot elderflower tea before bedtime helps to bring on a cleansing sweat to combat cold and ‘flu-like symptoms, and elderberry drinks were formerly prescribed to sooth throat complaints. A fine elderflower champagne can be made using the yeasts naturally present in the blossoms, which can also be dipped in a batter and eaten as fritters. Elderflower cordial is used to prevent hayfever, and respiratory infections.
However, to the minds of many people the Elder meant much more. Whilst it is advisable to show respect to all trees, many lumber-men would verbally ask permission of the Elder before cutting its wood. Even then it would not be taken into a home as there was the risk that burning its wood on a house fire would invite evil spirits or death into a home, and that a baby laid in an Elder-wood cradle would at best be nipped by unseen fingers or at worst be damned to an early grave.
There are many references in folklore advising against sleeping under an elder and it has been suspected that the strong smell of elder leaves may have mildly narcotic influences.
It was thought that Witches would sometimes transform themselves into Elder trees in order to spy on or to escape capture from their enemies. Other Elders were reputed to harbour the soul of a dead Witch or their own feminine spirit. Not all of these Elder mothers were sinister; some were reputed to be caring and compassionate, and allowed their twigs to be carried as charms to ward off other malevolent entities. Likewise, an Elder tree left unmolested on someone’s premises would protect the abode from evil.
In Denmark, an elder twig put in the mouth was traditionally thought to drive out evil spirits and thus could cure toothache. Also in Denmark, if you were to stand under an elder on Midsummer’s Eve you could see the Elf-king and his host. A similar tradition existed in Scotland where it was said to happen on All Hallows or Samhain.
In England, it was thought that the elder tree could never be hit by lightning and that carrying the twigs of an elder could protect their bearer from rheumatism. Farmers used to protect their animals from evil by placing a cross made from elder on their cow-sheds and barns.
In some Slavic countries, such as Russia, it is thought that the tree had the power to ward off evil. In Sicily, it was claimed to have the power to ward off snakes.
Animals and birds gorge on elderberries to build up energy reserves for winter, and go on to distribute the seeds far and wide, this is an example of co-evolution for mutual benefit.