LL-L "Etymology" 2002.08.22 (03) [E/S]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 22.AUG.2002 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
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From: "Ahlfeld, Ross" <ross.ahlfeld at invitrogen.com>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2002.08.22 (01) [E]

Hi Selma,
I am afraid the information I have for you may be more "Fantasy" rather
than
actual fact but I do have some information on a mythological connection
between the oak tree and truth....
The town I live in is called Greenock, according to folk memory the town
takes its name from the "Green Oak Tree" which used to sit at the top of
the
hill above town. (It is a common expression and also a source of great
pride
among the folks of my town to describe themselves as being a branch of
the
Oak or to be born under the Oak.)
After researching I discovered that this is not true, Greenock is an
erroneous Anglicization of the town's original Scottish Gaelic name
which
was "Griann Chiannox" which should correctly translate as "Hill Of the
Sun".
This name has it's roots in the fact that the first known settlement in
the
area was a Druid Altar to the Sun which was at the top of the Hill.
However, it is also thought by various local scholars that there was an
Oak
Tree at the top of this site which was used as part of a Druidical
ritual.
The belief is that the tree was a "tree of justice" criminals would be
tied
to the tree and ritually sacrificed. This is an example of the link
between
justice / truth and the Oak ?

There is also a folk beliefs here and also a few miles down the coast in
Largs (where the Vikings landed) which suggests that if ever two oak
tree
branches touch each other across the main road then the town will slip
into
the sea. Every year on Mayday each year the locals go up to the trees to
see
if this has happened yet, There are also many  poems and songs about the
Oak. This one is by a bloke called John Crawford, a local man who was
born
in 1816 in the room where Highland Mary died - she was a relative of
his.
Ross

Our Bonny Green-aik Tree Gae sing o' saunts an seers o' auld-
Nae patron  saunt hae we-Our faithers maskt their hamert maut.
An' drank its halesome bree; An as their drouth they sloken'd down,
They sang wi' cantie glee-"Oh! Stately fair may flourish aye,
Our bonny green-aik tree."
An'neath its spreadin' branches wide, hen storms our lift o'ercast,
May buirdly chiels for aye be rear'd To brave ilk threaten'd blast;
An' when a foreign soil they tread, Or stem the briny sea,
The homely chorus let the raise-"Our bonny green-aik tree."
Oh. Ne'er may pleasure warm the heart, Nor beauty smile to bless
The bairn wah slights a mither's hearth, Nor langs he haun to press-
Wha thinks na o' his kindly hame, Tho' distant far be he
That wadna then the chorus raise-"Our bonny green-aik tree."
Our faithers drank their nappy yill Our gaucy mothers span;
Ilk lassie busket trig and braw, To win a young gudeman;
An'as they trippet fair an' fond, They sang wi' lightsome glee-
"Our sunny shore, our bonny braes, An bonny green-aik tree."
A crooked steeple tower'd na then Aboon our neighbour toun;
The bairnies toddled thro' the glen To pu' the gowden broom,-
Whan circlin' roun ilk grassy knowe,They sang wi blithesome glee-
That ne'er a plotted bell wad hing Aneath their green-aik tree.

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