LL-L: "Mythology" (was "Help needed") LOWLANDS-L, 04.OCT.2000 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 04.OCT.2000 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: john feather [johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk]
Subject: Help needed

Ron wrote:
>I very vaguely remember something similar, something like the *_Holderfee_
(elder fairy) in German.  Or am I mixing it up with the Danish Hyldemor of
whom I seem to have heard before too?  (Is she featured in one of H.C.
Andersen's tales, .. ?)<

According to Vinterberg & Bodelsen's Dansk-Engelsk Ordbog "hyldemor" is
either a dryad or wood-nymph or the fairy-tale character "The Elder-Tree
Mother". Yes, H C Andersen did write (in his spelling) "Hyldemoer". It
starts off with a little boy with a cold being given "en god Kop Hyldethee".

John Feather johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk

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From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
Subject: Mythology

Thanks for the information (above), John.

I've done some rummaging of my own in the meantime, and this is what it boils
down to:

Yes, H. C. Andersen did indeed write a tale entitled "Hyldemoer".  You can
find the Danish text here:

http://www.kb.dk/elib/lit/dan/andersen/eventyr.dsl/hcaev044.htm

An English translation:
http://underthesun.cc/Classics/Andersen/FairyTales/elderbush.htm

Elder, especially black elder (_Sambucus nigra_), appears to be associated
with various Germanic female spirit myths, including the goddess Freya,
probably because of its medicinal properties and the womb-like shelter the
bush offers (often serving as a secret hide-out for children and lovers).
A German children's nursery dance:

Ringel-rangel Rosen,
Schöne Aprikosen,
Veilchen und Vergissmeinicht.
Alle kleinen Kinder setzen sich,
setzen sich in'n Holderbusch,
machen alle husch, husch, husch.

(Ring around the rosies,
lovely apricosies,
violets, forgetmenots.
All little children sit down,
sit down in [= under] the elder bush,
and they all go whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.)

[Participants first dance in a circle, then crouch and finally jump up and
hop.]

There are indeed mythological female spirits associated with the elder in many
German-speaking areas (Holunder, Holder, Holler), as far south as in Austria
and Switzerland.  The elder is considered a magic plant and appears to be
connected with an ancient goddess figure that is often referred to as "Holler"
or "Holle", apparently also to the kind fairy godmother "Frau Holle" (who is
responsible for making snow) in one of the fairytales recorded by the Brothers
Grimm.  This protective female spirit is believed to live in elder bushes,
thus appears to be the same as the Danish woodnymph Hyldemor ("Elder
Mother").  Though basically kindly, this spirit may also punish, for instance
those who dare to cut the wood of the sacred, magic elder.

Elderberry elixirs, teas, wines, etc., are traditionally considered
medicinally very potent (and seem to be indeed very good for you).
Administering or taking of these healing and health-maintaining potions was
traditionally accompanied by reciting magic formulae, such as

"Zweig, ich biege dich!
Fieber, nun lass mich!
Ich hab' dich einen Tag.
Hab' du's nun Jahr und Tag."

("Twig, I bend thee!
Fever, now leave me!
I have thee [but] one day.
May thou have it year and day.")

Cradles could not be built from elder wood, for otherwise the infant would be
haunted by nymphs and fairies (not all of which may be beneficial).

Does any of you know of *Lowlandic* variants of these myths and customs?

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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