2006-09-19 05:07:00 · 13 answers · asked by claire g 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
I wish I could find the reference (because I feel a little silly here). But somewhere on the web there is an explanation of why certain types of wood are important, and it comes from Harry Potter. Voldemort's wand is made of Yew wood. If I can find it, I will come and back and post it.
2006-09-19 05:28:16 · answer #1 · answered by Peapod 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The yew's reputation has been for long life and its due to the way in which the tree grows. Its branches grow down into the ground to form new stems, which then rise up around the old central growth as separate but linked trunks. After a time, they cannot be distinguished from the original tree. So the yew has always been a symbol of death and rebirth, the new that springs out of the old.
Both Druids with their belief in reincarnation, and later Christians with their teaching of the resurrection, regarded the Yew as a natural emblem of everlasting life. Its capacity for great age: enriched its symbolic value.
2006-09-19 12:14:21 · answer #2 · answered by Ellie29uk 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its not that they are used in cemtaries or churchyards, but the church was built where the yews grew, as the yew was a place of worship long before christianity. Yew trees are the longest living trees in the world.
2006-09-19 12:27:31 · answer #3 · answered by Swampy_Bogtrotter 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The practice was started by the Celts, the Yew was their symbol for eternity because a Yew tree lives for so long (thousands of years).
2006-09-19 12:15:24 · answer #4 · answered by Gone 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The roots give off a special enzyme that stop corpses turning into zombies.
I guess they don't have many Yew trees in Raccoon City.
Sorry, I'm being silly.
It was the Druids who worshipped round them or something and the Christians built the churches next to them in the hope of converting the druids to Christianity.
2006-09-19 12:24:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
So yew know where to look for them when yew feel the urge to get rid of your boss.
Very poisonous, so don't go eating the berries!
2006-09-20 10:57:20 · answer #6 · answered by Songbird 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yew trees live to a great age and so symbolise eternal life
2006-09-19 15:08:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Historically they were intended to protect the graveyard from witches. You will notice that there are often trees either side of the gate / entrance to prevent the witches from entering the graveyard.
I was really interested in this and looked it up and actually foudn reference that witches used yew tree in their 'brews' according to shakespeare and it was considered sacred by Hecate- the queen of the witches however I also found this article
http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.687687.0.cut_down_church_trees_yew_must_be_joking.php
which is strangely from the local paper in the area I grew up in so I guess this was definately a local belief.
2006-09-19 12:10:49 · answer #8 · answered by emily_jane2379 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yew wood is good under compression and expansion relative to outer or heartwood, thus is used for bow making, it is one of the longest lived trees living thousands of years and having large girths some of the largest there are..as to why in church yards...not sure...but there must be some significance..good question
2006-09-19 14:43:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sure there is another explanation, but yew trees roots don't dig very deep.
2006-09-19 12:08:31 · answer #10 · answered by johngrobmyer 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋