The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HAZELWOOD TREE LEGEND

THERE IS A LEGEND ABOUT THE HAZELWOOD TREE. WHEN MARY AND JOSEPH AND JESUS WERE FLEEING TO EGYPT THEY CAME TO A POPLAR TREE THAT WAS BIG AND TALL AND STRAIGHT. MARY ASKED THE POPLAR TREE TO COVER HER UP AND PROTECT HER FROM THE RAIN. THE POPLAR TREE WOULD NOT. MARY SAID,"MAY YOU NEVER HAVE YOUR LIMBS DOWN AND MAY YOUR LEAVES NEVER REST." THIS IS WHY THE POPLAR TREE IS ALWAYS TREMBLING WHETHER THERE IS ANY WIND OR NOT. THE NEXT TREE MARY CAME TO WAS THE HAZLEWOOD TREE. THEY DO NOT GROW VERY HIGH, ARE SQUATTY AND ALWAYS HAVE A LOT OF BRANCHES ON THEM. MARY ASKED THE HAZELWOOD TREE TO COVER HER AND IT DID. SHE BLESSED THE TREE IN RETURN SAYING, "MAY YOU BE BLESSED FOR ETERNITY BECAUSE YOU HAD SHELTERED ME. MAY YOUR LEAVES BE A MEDICINE TO PEOPLE THAT NEED YOU. HEAL THEM OF THEIR DISEASES. AND MAY YOU BEAR FRUIT FOR MANKIND AND BEASTS." SINCE THEN THE HAZLEWOOD TREE HAS PRODUCED LOTS OF NUTS CALLED FILBERTS.

James Callow comment:

Poplar branches reach up, as if arms extended in prayer.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT ANIMAL

Date learned: 02-04-1972