Yew Folklore

Discover the folklore that surrounds yew trees on the British Isles.

Why are so many yew trees found in churchyards, why do the yews at Nevern bleed and why should you not visit Llangernyw churchyard on Haloween?

 

Sources

Ali Isaac, 'Tree Lore in Irish Mythology' https://www.aliisaacstoryteller.com/post/tree-lore-in-irish-mythology-guardians-of-the-5-provinces

Deidre Larkin, 'The Hallowed Yew' https://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/2009/12/11/the-hallowed-yew/

Frances Carey, 'The Tree Meaning and Myth.'

Kylie Harrison Mellor, 'Ancient Yew Trees: The UK's Oldest Yew Trees' woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2018/01/ancient-yew-trees

Margaret Baker, 'Discovering the Folklore of Plants.'

Peter Hears, 'The Bleeding Yews of Nevern' https://www.nevern-church.org.uk/the-bleeding-yews/

Robert Blair, 'The Grave.'

Rosemary Power, 'A Story of Iona: An Illustrated History and Guide.'

Tim Partridge, 'Trees in Mythology, Symbolism and Religion' www.ancient-yew.org/mi.php/trees-in-mythology/79

'Mythology and Folklore of Yew' https://treesforlife.org.uk/into-the-forest/trees-plants-animals/trees/yew/

'Yew' woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/yew/

'Yews in Fiction and Fact' arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/1970-30-4-yews-in-fiction-and-fact.pdf