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[Elder / Fläder (S) / Sambucus nigra] Elder was Freya’s (Nordic tradition) and Holda’s (Germanic tradition) plant, and it was the protective tree of households and women’s crafts. It guarded against witches and other evil magic, and was often planted around the house for protection – although the potency of the tree became strongest if it was allowed to self-germinate. However, one should be careful, because killing the protective elder of a house could lead to a family member dying, and even when harvesting flowers or berries one had to offer something to the spirit of the tree in return. In addition to protecting the family of a house, it also protected the animals, and the leaves could be put under the saddle of a horse to scare off harmful insects. Elder flowers and berries can be made into juice (delicious!!), and tea made from the berries can also help when you have a cold by increasing perspiration and urination.
Photo: Elder flowers in the herb garden in Bergianska trädgården, June 2016. Posted on Instagram July 5, 2020.
Katja Malmborg 