Glastonbury has a new Holy Thorn tree thanks to the horticultural expertise of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. I am delighted to give an update on last year’s blog about the Somerset tradition of sending a sprig of the Holy Thorn to the British monarch at Christmas.
Glastonbury and the Monarchy
A new Holy Thorn was planted this September in memoriam of Queen Elizabeth II and to honour our new King Charles III. James Montague, The Bishop of Bath and Wells, started the Christmas tradition of sending a flowering sprig in the time of James I (1566-1625). The tree became closely associated with the monarchy and the rise and fall of Catholicism and Protestantism in Britain. Oliver Cromwell’s Roundheads chopped the Holy Thorn down. The local people protected cuttings and the tradition returned with the Restoration of the monarchy with Charles II. Now as we enter a new Carolean era, Glastonbury has sent King Charles III a Holy Thorn sprig this Christmas.
Vandalism and Survival
Oliver Cromwell is not the only vandal of the Glastonbury Thorn. The poor tree on Wearyall Hill has been repeatedly vandalised. Now, the local people protect the trees more closely in the town itself. Both Kew Gardens and Oxford Botanic Gardens have supplied new trees over the years due to modern-day vandalism. The latest tree planted at St Dunstan’s House was supplied by Kew Gardens. It comes from a scion of the tree vandalised on Wearyall Hill.
2022’s Ceremony
On 14th December 2022, the eldest child at Primary School, 7-year-old Eris Collins Diaz cut a flowering sprig of the Glastonbury Thorn for King Charles III’s Christmas dining table. Thus, she continued the tradition that was carried out throughout his mother’s, Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. (Below are previous blogs about Glastonbury’s Holy Thorn including one on my attendance at the event in 2021. There is also a video of this year’s event by Glastonbury Gabriel).
Previous Blogs on the Glastonbury Holy Thorn
References and Further Reading
- Bowman, Marion (2007): The Holy Thorn Ceremony: Revival, Rivalry and Civil Religion in Glastonbury. Presidential Address Given To the Folklore Society, March 2005. Folklore. Volume 117, 2006. Issue 2.
- Cusack, Carole M. (2006): The Glastonbury Thorn in Vernacular Christianity and Popular Tradition. Studies in Religion A20. University of Sydney.
- de la Mare, Tess (2022): King Charles sent his first sprig of Glastonbury Holy Thorn. BBC News. 14 December 2022.
- Frome Nub News (2022): New Holy Thorn Tree is planted in Glastonbury. 27 September 2022.
- Glastonbury Gabriel (2022): A Glastonbury Thorn for a King. YouTube. 15 December 2022.
- Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre (2018): The Glastonbury Thorn. Pilgrimage in Glastonbury.
- Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre (2018): The Story of the Glastonbury Thorn: The Recent Chapters. Pilgrimage in Glastonbury.
- Glastonbury Town Council (2022): Michaelmas Weekend. In Honour & In Memoriam. 16 September 2022.
- Greatest Hits Radio (Somerset) (2022): The Glastonbury Holy Thorn will once again be on display. News. Planet Radio. 16 September 2022.
- Stout, Adam (2020): Glastonbury Holy Thorn. Story of a Legend. Green & Pleasant Publishing. Glastonbury.
- The Gardens Trust (2018): The Glastonbury Thorn. Blog. 22 December 2018.
Note
Karen does not seek or receive any commercial interest or advantage from this blog. She is not promoting any business venture. She simply loves to share fascinating facts about plants. These pages illustrate her love of plants, botany, biodiversity, gardens and creative expression. There is always so much to learn about plant diversity. This blog is designed as a showcase for photography, commentary on plants and wildlife, gardens and other places visited