Similarities between yew tree( Taxus baccata) in Europe and calabash tree(Crescentia cujete) in the Caribbean on graveyards. The yew is also known as the guardian of the dead, possibly because of its position within grave yards. However, there are other ancient ideas that link the yew with death. The tree is sacred to the Greek goddess Hecate, said to be the liberator of souls after death.Mythology and symbolism Yew trees are associated with churchyards and there are at least 500 churchyards in England which contain yew trees older than the buildings themselves. It is not clear why, but it is thought that yew trees were planted on the graves of plague victims to protect and purify the dead, and also in churchyards to stop 'commoners' from grazing their cattle on church ground as yew is extremely poisonous to livestock. Yew trees were used as symbols of immortality, but also seen as omens of doom. For many centuries it was the custom for yew branches to be carried on Palm Sunday and at funerals. In Ireland it was said that yew was ‘the coffin of the vine’, as wine barrels were made of yew staves. Uses of yew Yew timber is incredibly strong and durable. Traditionally, the wood was used in turnery and to make long bows and tool handles. One of the World's oldest surviving wooden artefacts is a yew spear head estimated to be around 450,000 years old. Anti-cancer compounds are harvested from the foliage of Taxus baccata and used in modern medicine. Yew trees contain the highly poisonous taxane alkaloids that have been developed as anti-cancer drugs. Eating just a few leaves can make a small child severely ill and there have been some deaths linked to yew poisoning. All parts of the tree are poisonous.
So creative! I am really enjoying this series.
It is so beautiful to see my brother at work on the calabash and the unification he shares with the ancestors Ase Ase Ase.
THE 100% USEFULL CALABASH....
Similarities between yew tree( Taxus baccata) in Europe and calabash tree(Crescentia cujete) in the Caribbean on graveyards. The yew is also known as the guardian of the dead, possibly because of its position within grave yards. However, there are other ancient ideas that link the yew with death. The tree is sacred to the Greek goddess Hecate, said to be the liberator of souls after death.Mythology and symbolism
Yew trees are associated with churchyards and there are at least 500 churchyards in England which contain yew trees older than the buildings themselves. It is not clear why, but it is thought that yew trees were planted on the graves of plague victims to protect and purify the dead, and also in churchyards to stop 'commoners' from grazing their cattle on church ground as yew is extremely poisonous to livestock.
Yew trees were used as symbols of immortality, but also seen as omens of doom. For many centuries it was the custom for yew branches to be carried on Palm Sunday and at funerals. In Ireland it was said that yew was ‘the coffin of the vine’, as wine barrels were made of yew staves.
Uses of yew
Yew timber is incredibly strong and durable. Traditionally, the wood was used in turnery and to make long bows and tool handles. One of the World's oldest surviving wooden artefacts is a yew spear head estimated to be around 450,000 years old.
Anti-cancer compounds are harvested from the foliage of Taxus baccata and used in modern medicine. Yew trees contain the highly poisonous taxane alkaloids that have been developed as anti-cancer drugs. Eating just a few leaves can make a small child severely ill and there have been some deaths linked to yew poisoning. All parts of the tree are poisonous.
Its difficult to carve the calabash, not as easy as it looks.