<div style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">=====================================================<br> L O W L A N D S - L - 17 January 2012 - Volume 01<br>
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<br><div>From: <span class="gI"><span class="gD">Utz H.Woltmann</span> <span class="go"><a href="mailto:uwoltmann@gmx.de">uwoltmann@gmx.de</a></span></span><div>
Subject: <span class="gI">LL-L 'Traditions' 2012.01.17 [EN]</span><br><span><br></span>January 17th is a special day for all the apple trees: In England there
is an old tradition of wassailing the apple trees. The word wassail
(waes-hal) seems to be close related to our NDS wees (ween / wesen, EN =
to be) and heel (EN = well / whole).<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20120113-wassailing-the-old-english-apple-tree" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20120113-wassailing-the-old-english-apple-tree</a><br>
<br>
Best regards<br><br><span class="HOEnZb adL"><font color="#888888">Utz H. Woltmann</font></span><br><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(31,73,125)"></span></div><br>----------<br><br>From: R. F. Hahn <<a href="mailto:sassisch@yahoo.com">sassisch@yahoo.com</a>><br>
Subject: <span class="gI">Traditions<br><br>Utz, folks,<br><br>I wonder if there is any connection between the mentioned English </span>wassailing of apple trees tradition and the Jewish tradition of Tu BiShevat (<span dir="rtl" lang="he">ט״ו בשבט</span>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_Bishvat">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_Bishvat</a>). <br>
<br>Tu BiShevat is celebrated on the 15th (<span dir="rtl" lang="he">ט״ו</span>) day of the Hebrew month of Shevat (<span dir="rtl" lang="he">שבט</span>). Depending on the year, this corresponds to various dates of the Western calendar; last year it was on January 19, and this year it will be on February 8. So the general timing matches that of the English tradition.<br>
<br>By-names for this holiday include "New Year of the Trees" and "Birthday of the Trees". It marks the reawakening of nature (according to the Israeli climate). Ceremonies include planting and blessing of trees, often with an emphasis on fruit trees. (Fruit trees are considered almost sacred in Judaism, and their destruction is prohibited.) Tu BiShevat meals tend to include dried and pickled fruit as well as almonds and other types of nuts.<br>
<br>Also, it would be interesting to know if the English tradition is a remnant of a more widely spread European or Eurasian tradition.<br><br>Regards,<br>Reinhard/Ron<br>Seattle, USA<br><span class="gI"><br></span></div>
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