Household Tales · Chapter
The Hazel-Branch explained
The Christ-child falls asleep in his cradle, and his mother (Our Lady) goes to the woods to pick strawberries for him.
What happens
The Christ-child falls asleep in his cradle, and his mother (Our Lady) goes to the woods to pick strawberries for him. While gathering them, she is threatened by an adder but hides behind a hazel-bush, which protects her. She declares that the hazel-branch shall henceforth protect others, explaining its traditional use as a safeguard against snakes and creeping things.
Themes in this chapter
Magic and the Supernatural
The hazel-branch is endowed with protective properties against snakes, reflecting a supernatural or magical folk belief.
Characters to notice
- the Virgin Mary
The mother of the Christ-child, who goes to gather strawberries and is protected by a hazel-bush.
Key passages
“As the hazel-bush has been my protection this time, it shall in future protect others also.”
The hazel-bush saved me today, so from now on it will safeguard other people too.
The Virgin Mary declares the hazel-branch a lasting protective charm.