The tree which above all others offered the best protection against fairy enchantments and witchcraft. As the Scottish rhyme goes:

Rowan, lamer [amber] and red threid

Pits witches to their speed.

It will be noticed that all these are reddish, and the red berries of the rowan-tree make it specially effective. A staff of rowan, a cross made of rowan, a bunch of rowan berries, all these were effective, and it was customary in the Highlands to plant a rowan-tree outside every house. Where rowans were scarce, ash-trees took their place. An ashen gad was supposed to be protective of cattle. See also Protection against fairies.

[Мотивы: D950-6; D1385.2.5]