Have You Ever Seen A Rag Tree/Bush/Fairy Shrine/Clootie Well Etc?

Isoverity · 03-04-2009, 10:42 PM

I was reading about "rag trees" in Ireland and Scotland and was wondering how extensive/popular they actually were. Have people here seen these kinds of places?

Rag Trees
http://www.dochara.com/places-to-vis...ual/rag-trees/

Photo from the Clootie Well site:

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...ell/index.html

jellytot · 03-04-2009, 11:01 PM

it looks like loads of trash

Life and Lies · 03-04-2009, 11:59 PM

I've seen a few, and I have family in Scotland who live near one

i dont think they are as popular/common as they used to be, but there are quite a few still around

Panic Trials · 04-04-2009, 12:21 AM

I tied a rag to one before because i had a wort and it apparently cured them, i thought WHY NOT and tried it....it didnt work, but yeah, i've seen um.

Also, there's a fairy tree beside my house.

Feel_Good_inc. · 04-04-2009, 01:14 AM

I've not only seen them, I've tied a strip to one once. When I was a kid.

Isoverity · 04-04-2009, 03:30 AM

To the people that saw one - did they smell funny? I heard if there are a lot of cloth bits they can smell a lot.

Isoverity · 04-04-2009, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morrigan

I've seen them, but never knew anybody who admitted to use one either.

Never heard the term "rag tree" anywhere, whether colloquially or officially. They'd usually be "holy", "fairy", "wishing" something or something "shrine".

There is a Fairy Bridge in the Isle of Man. On crossing the bridge one is supposed to greet the fairies who live beside it or it's bad luck. People leave things on the bridge and adjacent trees as offerings for wishes or thanksgiving.

Thanks - I tried to slip more terms into title. I read an article about "rag trees" a long time ago and that is what stuck. I was reminded of the trees of old Halloween,Samhain etc and wondered if there was a connection

The Hierophant · 04-04-2009, 09:35 AM

There's a house near my parents house & i've never seen anyone come inside or out, but she has lots of prayer flags outside & around her house.
I think it looks really pretty actually, as whoever lives inside replaces them every few weeks.