Polish Legends about the “Blessed“ and “Cursed“ Trees and the Beliefs Reffering to

Abstract

It is interesting to observe how folk superstitions concerning trees were based on motifs from folk literature, especially legends connected with some biblical events. In Poland, we most often encounter stories about trees offering or refusing shelter. In Poland, the bush providing shelter is most often the hazel, which is endowed with a special blessing and is supposed to protect against lightning; the tree refusing help is usually the aspen. The consequence of its cowardly refusal is supposedly the constant trembling of its leaves.

In other European countries, the motif of the tree providing shelter is often associated with events in the life of the Virgin Mary or Christ. There are also various types of trees. The prototype of the opposition between good and evil trees can also be found in ancient Babylonian literature.