Interesting facts

The name Elder probably derives from the Anglo-Saxon word ellaern or aeld (= fire, kindle) because the hollow stems were once used for blowing on a fire to get it going.

One of the German names "Holler" comes from the ancient term "hold" meaning kind or loyal, another, "Holder", is said to come from the word "holdo" meaning "spirit". The "guote Holden" are thus the good house spirits and the "Unhold" the evil spirit.

According to legend, the Elder tree was the home of tutelary household gods and it was therefore planted near houses or stables. It was probably respect for the gods dwelling in the tree that led to the belief that certain death awaited anyone who felled an Elder. Before picking leaves or flowers people would ask the shrub's permission to as not to anger it and make it lose its healing powers. In Sweden people say that on Midsummer Night the King of Fairyland with his entire retinue can be seen under the Elder tree, which is also said to be the gate to the underworld.

Different countries call their Elder spirits by quite different names. In Scandinavia the Elder was said to be the home of the goddess Hel, in Germanic mythology of the goddess Freya. The Frau Holle of German legend is also one of these Elder spirits. The snow that fell on the earth when she shook out her feather pillows is said to have been white elder flowers.

As Hel was revered, amongst other things, as goddess of death, the Elder also played an important role in death cults. Thus, Elder wood was used to make crosses for graves, the dead were laid out on Elder branches and Elder tea was drunk during the wake. In the Tyrol, Elder branches are still put on graves today. If the branches sprout this is considered a sign that the dead person has been welcomed into the realm of the dead.

It is hardly surprising that a tree which is home to so many good spirits is said to have healing powers. People would bury objects such as items of clothing or milk teeth in its shade to protect the owner from evil spells and disease, and spells were used to try to divert an illness from a sick person into the Elder bush. Or people would wear a piece of Elder wood close to the body to ward off illness. On the other hand it was believed to be dangerous to decorate a cradle with Elder branches because the fairies would see this as a sign that they could take the child away.

Both Elder flowers and Elder berries are the source of various culinary delights. Whether soup or fritters made of Elder flowers in the spring, or Elderberry jam and Elderberry punch in the autumn, nobody would turn up their nose at these usually home-made delicacies. A less known fact is that the hollow stems of the Elder tree can be used to make small musical pipes or flutes.