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, IN WIND OR NOT.
THE NEXT TREE THAT MARY CAME TO, WAS THE HAZELWOOD 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 HAVE SHELTERED ME. MAY YOUR LEAVES BE A
MEDICINE TO PEOPLE THAT NEED YOU. HEAL THEM OF DISEASES, AND MAY
YOU GROW FRUIT FOR MANKIND AND BEASTS.' SINCE THEN THE HAZELWOOD
TREE HAS PRODUCED LOTS OF NUTS CALLED FILBERTS.

James Callow comment:

POPLAR BRANCHES REACH UP, AS IF ARMS EXTENDED IN PRAYER

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT ANIMAL