Glastonbury Thorn facts for kids
The Glastonbury thorn is a special type of hawthorn tree. It grows in and around Glastonbury, Somerset, England. Unlike most hawthorn trees, it flowers twice a year. It blooms once in winter and again in spring. Because of this, it's sometimes called 'Biflora', meaning "two flowers." People have grown new Glastonbury thorn trees from older ones for a very long time using a method called grafting. Many also call it the holy thorn.
This tree is linked to old stories about Joseph of Arimathea. These legends say he brought Christianity to Britain. The thorn has been written about since the Middle Ages. Every Christmas, a small branch with flowers is sent to the British Monarch. The first legendary thorn tree was copied many times. One tree grows at Glastonbury Abbey. Another is in the churchyard of the Church of St John. The very first "original" Glastonbury thorn was cut down and burned during the English Civil War. This happened because some people thought it was a sign of old superstitions. A tree planted in 1951 to replace it on Wearyall Hill had its branches cut off in 2010.
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The Thorn's Amazing History
According to old stories, Joseph of Arimathea came to Glastonbury. He brought the Holy Grail with him. The legend says he stuck his staff into Wearyall Hill. This staff then grew into the first thorn tree. Writers did not connect Joseph to Christianity in Britain until the 1200s. It is still debated if Joseph was really in Glastonbury.
The thorn tree was first mentioned in a book in 1520. This book was called Lyfe of Joseph of Armathie. It was likely ordered by Glastonbury Abbey. The book talked about the thorn that flowered in winter. It also mentioned a special walnut tree. This walnut tree flowered on Midsummer's Day. Both trees were seen as signs of God's favor. They showed that Glastonbury was "the holiest earth of England."
The thorn tree helped keep Glastonbury's legends alive. This was true even after the abbey was closed down in 1539. The abbey was mostly destroyed during Queen Elizabeth I's rule. But the thorn kept flowering at Christmas. Many Catholics saw this as a sign that their faith could survive tough times.
Royal Interest and Puritan Opposition
When the Stuart family became rulers in 1603, the thorn became important again. King James I and King Charles I were more open to Catholicism. They were both curious about the thorn's winter flowering. James Montague, a bishop, even created a special show for Queen Anne. In this show, Joseph of Arimathea gave the Queen branches from the thorn and walnut trees. This was to remember "ruined Glastonbury."
However, the royal interest made the thorn a problem for Puritans. Puritans were a group who thought Christmas was too Catholic. They worried the Stuarts wanted to bring back the Catholic faith. The Puritans were strong in Somerset. When the English Civil War began, the royal family reacted harshly. A Puritan soldier chopped down the thorn tree. This probably happened in 1647.
The Thorn's Survival and New Legends
Even after being destroyed, the thorn remained a symbol. It was important to royal supporters during the Commonwealth years. This was when England had no king. The thorn appeared in a famous picture of Glastonbury by Wenceslaus Hollar. This picture was for a book about ruined monasteries.
When King Charles II returned to power in 1660, it was a time of new beginnings. It might not be a coincidence that a famous thorn legend was first written down in 1662. This story said Joseph of Arimathea arrived on Wearyall Hill on Christmas Day. He said, "we are weary all," and planted his staff. The staff then burst into flower. This story is like other old tales where saints' staffs magically bloom.
This legend, like Joseph's arrival, became less popular later on. This happened after the Stuart kings were replaced in 1689. Also, new ways of thinking in the Age of Reason changed things. Joseph and the thorn were seen as just popular folklore. But they still remained very popular. A small book called The History of that Holy Disciple Joseph of Arimathea was printed many times. It always ended with a description of the thorn. It called the thorn "a most miraculous Curiosity." It attracted "Thousands of People" to Glastonbury each year.
In 1752, Britain changed its calendar. The Gentleman's Magazine reported that people went to see the Glastonbury thorn. They wanted to know if it would follow the old calendar or the new one.
Glastonbury.—A vast concourse of people attended the noted thorn on Christmas-day, new style; but, to their great disappointment, there was no appearance of its blowing, which made them watch it narrowly the 5th of January, the Christmas-day, old style, when it blowed as usual.
- Gentleman's Magazine January 1753
The thorn kept to the old calendar, flowering on January 5th.
Interest in the thorn grew again during the Victorian era. People became more interested in Christmas. They also felt a greater sense of moral duty. This was part of a movement against the problems of industry and city life. New legends appeared in the late 1800s. People wondered about ancient Britain. Some thought the thorn might have been a "Sacred Tree" before Christianity. In the 1900s, its legends helped shape New Age beliefs.
A Royal Christmas Tradition
Every Christmas, the Vicar (a church leader) and the Mayor of Glastonbury send a branch of the Glastonbury thorn to the Queen. We know Christmas cuttings were sent to King Charles I and King Charles II. But the modern tradition started in 1929. That year, the Vicar of Glastonbury sent a branch to Queen Mary and King George V. This event is now a big part of Glastonbury's yearly calendar. The thorn also appeared on British Postage stamps in 1986.
Damage to the Thorn Trees
The Glastonbury thorn has faced damage over the years. On December 9, 2010, the thorn planted on Wearyall Hill in 1951 was attacked. Its branches were cut off. In March 2011, a new shoot appeared on the damaged tree. But these new shoots would disappear a few days or weeks later.
On April 1, 2012, a new young tree was planted. This sapling came from a descendant of the pre-1951 thorn. It was planted by landowners and the Glastonbury Conservation Society. But just 16 days later, it was broken in half and badly damaged. In May 2019, the landowner completely removed the tree.
How the Thorn is Grown
Many people have tried to grow the Glastonbury thorn from seeds or cuttings. But in the late 1900s, all these attempts resulted in normal hawthorn trees. These trees only flowered in spring.
The Glastonbury thorn is mostly grown by grafting or cuttings. This special type is called 'Biflora' or 'Praecox'. An old writer named Mr. Eyston wrote about it in 1722. He said there was a person near Glastonbury who had a nursery of these trees. This person sold them for a crown each.
The thorn tree in the church grounds was declared dead in June 1991. It was cut down the next February. However, many cuttings were taken from it before it was removed. The thorn in Glastonbury Church before 1991 is said to be a cutting from the original plant. It was planted secretly after the first one was destroyed. Now, only trees grown from these cuttings exist. They blossom twice a year, in May and at Christmas. The Christmas blossoms are usually smaller. They do not produce any haws (the small red berries). Plants grown from the haws do not keep the special traits of the parent tree.
The current "sacred thorn tree" at the Church of St John grew from a local cutting. Many other thorn trees in Glastonbury are also from local cuttings. The large tree in the churchyard had been there for eighty years. Mr. George Chislett, the head gardener of Glastonbury Abbey, planted it. He also learned how to graft holy thorn cuttings onto blackthorn roots. This helped keep the "miraculous" Christmas blossoming. His son, Wilf, sent Glastonbury thorn cuttings all over the world. They went to places like Washington, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
Trees from earlier grafts still exist. They help keep the Glastonbury legend alive. Among them are two other holy thorns in the grounds of St John's. The blossom sent to the Queen now comes from one of these trees. At the end of term, students from St John's Infants School gather around the tree. They sing carols, including one written just for the occasion. The oldest student gets to cut the branch. This branch is then taken to London and given to the Queen.
In 1965, the Queen put up a wooden cross at Glastonbury. It has this message: "The cross, the symbol of our faith, the gift of Queen Elizabeth II, marks a Christian sanctuary so ancient that only legend can record its origin."
