Some Ozark Tree-Lore

In the spirit of the season it seems appropriate to share some traditional folklore and stories. The Ozarks were first populated by frontierfolk who brought with them a firm belief in the supernatural along with a tradition of combating evil with “church-sanctioned” magical remedies. It was also believed these same malevolent forces which affected people were also lodged in certain plants and animals. In a society that depended on the forest and timber, much folk belief revolved around trees. Fragments of this eons old lore, linger to this day. Perhaps you've heard a few of these.

Bewitching PawPaws: Paw Paws are regarded with supernatural suspicion, for any good hillman knows these trees draw ghosts and spirits; one mustn't be caught around them after dark. Many believe the pawpaw tree is connected with witchcraft and devil worship, but the fruits are eaten freely without any supernatural side effects. The pawpaw is also regarded as a powerful agent when fighting witches. For instance one can make a witch violently ill by putting a little paw paw bark in her pipe tobacco. You can also ward witches off your cabin by painting your door blue and driving three pegs of paw paw wood in the thereshold in the form of a triangle, representing the trinity. Some say the pegs making up the triangle must be driven in with three blows, “In the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost.”

The Unluckiest Tree in the World: Most folks look forward to seeing the waves of pink from the redbud trees that line the creek bottom of an Ozark spring. Some “furrin” folks equate the redbud with love symbolized in their heart-shaped leaves. For generations most hillfolk have regarded these trees with apprehension and dread due to tales of wandering spirits being drawn to the tree’s sorrow or witches skulking about to gather the pink blooms for conjuring. While they may view a blooming redbud from afar, they will not go near, especially after dark. This tree’s acursedness stems from the age-old legend that after betraying Christ, Judas Iscariot hung himself from a redbud tree. The redbud tree was so ashamed of what had happened that it grew spindly and bushlike, the limbs being too weak to ever hang a man from again, the once white blossoms now blushed; evermore pink in shame,the small blossoms resembling a hangman's noose.

Cedar Shadows: The cedar tree has a pungent rot resistant wood with many uses. Somewhat jokingly, most farmers would swear cedars are spawned straight from hell and into pastures or fence rows as if by black magic. There is no curse or superstition attached to cutting or using cedar wood, however no true hillman would ever, under any circumstance, transplant cedar trees. This act of moving cedars will curse the individual for the remainder of their short life, -for as soon as the cedar casts enough of a shadow to cover your grave, you will surely die. Many hillmen hired by “furriners” to plant cedars would dig the holes and then fetch some old codger without long to live to do the actual planting. He probably had little to fear as cedars are notoriously hard to transplant.

Next week we will explore what steps to take if your milk cow is bewitched.