Hawthorn Fairy

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After writing about the Fairy doors and Fairy Raths, it is the time to speak about the Fairies themselves. In Ireland, fairies are associated with Hawthorn trees, especially the solitary ones or those growing together with the oaks and aspens. In May and early June all the countryside is swathed in the white garlands of blooming hawthorn: fairy season comes to Ireland. The Fairy tree holds strong magic forming a portal to the fairy realms in the Otherworld, and there is nothing I love as much as a good old portal 🙂

Hawthorn tree is respected, and has always been sacred to mankind. Farmers work around them, and no one in their right mind would fell a lonely hawthorn tree or anyhow damage faerie property. In the 1990-s, the upgrading of the National Route from Limerick to Galway was delayed for a nearly ten years, and the Ennis bypass was eventually rerouted to accommodate a lonely hawthorn tree and avoid disturbing the little folk. Fairies can be vindictive. You wouldn’t like a bad luck accompany you for the rest of your life, would you. They say that even in the 1950, rural people would shout warnings before throwing water out the door lest a fairy should be passing.

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If you have the Hawthorn in your hedge, you can use the flowers to make a good tea (mix them with some other herbs because of their strong effect), the leaves to add to your salad, and the berries (haws) to make jelly or jam. That would help you reduce your blood pressure, stimulate your heart and act as a mild sedative.

There are some pictures I took of a Hawthorn fairy to illustrate this blog post.

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I saw the fairy at the shore of Ballyscanlon lake, Co Waterford.

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It is a beautiful lake with clear water an peaceful surroundings.

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The Hawthorn tree in question grows very close to the lake. Fairies wouldn’t like to cross a stream, but there are many fairies that live near the water.

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If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you will see a flock of tiny mosquitoes sitting on the rock near the flower.

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Fairies know everything that is happening in their realms. Nothing goes unnoticed.

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This little Robin knows her well: fairies use birds to fly from place to place 🙂

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The Sun goes up, and it is the time for the Fairy to use her magic and return to her Otherworld realm.

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Hope to see you again some day.

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Gateway to the Otherworld opens, and in a blink of an eye the fairy is gone.

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Thank you for visiting Ballyscanlon lake with me today. May the fairies bring you all the best luck you need!

inese_mj_photographyHave a fantastic weekend!

144 comments

  2. Just read your comment on my blog about being cold in Ireland. Brr. And here it is July. Bad introduction to the Emerald Isle. By August it should warm up. But who knows.

    1. I won’t be in Ireland in August 😉 June and May were two gorgeous months – I think we have used all our luck in the weather department this year.

      1. It will be so awesome to see more pictures of Europe. I’ve never been there…I feel so connected with the mystical nature spirits. Blessings!

        1. Thank you! You might check out the link in the Fairy post – the one about the Fairy rings. Some info about the little folk there 🙂

    1. Thank you so much, Joseph! There are some tiny insects sitting on the rock under the flower. The picture is taken with a slow shutter speed. Everything that moves (water) is supposed to be blurred. The insects came out sharp which means they were as still as the rocks 🙂

  6. Dear Inese, thanks for all of these lovely legends. I enjoyed learning all the fairy lore. This was such a beautifully illustrated journey, with all your gorgeous photos. Truly a treat. Mega hugs!

    1. Thank you so much, Cynthia! It is an optical illusion created by the fairy to help me with the photo session. I don’t have a Macro lens…

  9. The unreal, so real when the condiment adding taste is neither salt, nor pepper, but magic its dubious yet immaculate self. A fine recipe.

      1. Morning mist (in a good way I stress) is one of my enduring memories of days in Ireland…when such mist cloaks sublime landscape, then dissipates come the sunrise, I can understand why you are a dreamer.

        1. I know the weather you are talking about, and I love the moments when the sun rays break through the morning mist, but it always happens when I am driving, and there is no chance to stop and take a picture. The most memorable scenes have no record 🙂

          1. True, you only get that brief opportunity. I am no photographer yet suffered here in Dover just the other day. A sublime sun breaking through and charcoal cloud formation across La Manche…by the time I’d turned my phone on it had gone!

  11. I learn about people in Ireland and fairies. That is very interesting about people in Ireland and the fairies. I love this fairy tale. The ending picture that the pretty fairy was parting is great! You were lucky to find the pretty fairy. I hope she gave you few good wishes.

    1. Have no idea! I am afraid of fairies and don’t touch the hawthorn. If I had a hedge, I would know it is safe to pick up some flowers and berries, but not in the country, not from the wild trees. I can only guess that the tea tastes like the rose hip tea, because these plants belong to the same family Rosacea.

  16. I love the magic, Inese. That a road was rerouted to avoid cutting down a Hawthorn tree is amazing and wonderful. It makes total sense to be mindful of the fairies. 🙂

  17. Oh this is so lovely! I adore the narrative you weave with imagery and language here. I can just imagine the music in your voice as you tell us this. Beautiful and elegant. You’ve outdone yourself this time. xxxxxx

  19. Beautiful pictures – I wonder if Hawthorne trees would grow out here in California? Probably it’s too dry.

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