Tree Dressing Day

Tree Dressing Day around the world

Mount Horai, Xerxes, the tree of Ez Zakkoum

As we reach the 21st Century, ecological and cultural imperatives are growing closer together once more. 

The many tree legends, myths and rituals from all over the world, have increasing relevance for all of us: they must never be forgotten. There are many stories about fabulous trees. 

In Japan on Mount Horai there grew a Camelia tree with silver roots, golden trunk and branches hung with precious stones which was the home of everlasting life. 

Xerxes, the famed ruler of Persia on discovering a plane tree he considered beautiful, is reputed to have honoured it by dressing it with jewels. 

The prophet Mohammed on his night journey along the Axis Mundi with the Archangel Gabriel as a guide, encountered a tree glowing with emeralds, rubies and sapphires, perhaps the miraculous Tuba Tree which stood at the heart of paradise. He was also shown the tree of Ez Zakkoum, which according to Islamic ritual greets the damned in hell, and has the heads of satans as fruit. 

Picture:
Tree Dressing, Botanic Gardens, Birmingham

Alexander, Jason, the Jesse Tree, the Meavy Oak