The Hazel

-Botanical

Latin name: Corylus avellana

The Hazel is a little tree, living in woods, hedges and gardens, and which produces a little fruit very appreciate, the hazelnut, mature in autumn. Its height can be between 2 and 4 meters. This tree is constituted with 10 or 12 little trunks, forming a tuft.
It has flowers from January to March. The hazel is a rustic tree, and can grow in any areas, it doesn't need special conditions.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Coll

Month: July

Color: Brown
Letter in the Ogham: C, K
Magical properties: Creative energies for work or projects.

In the Celtic astrology, hazel is charming and understanding. Always according to the Celtic tradition, it is the tree of knowledge, and its nuts were the receptacle of the wisdom.
In Ireland, hazel is closely link with the story of the king Mac Coll, who was called "Son of Hazel". He was one of the three earliest rulers in Ireland. The hazel tree which he took his name was associated with wisdom.
In Celtic culture, hazelnut was also respected because people considered it as the food of the Gods. And in one the most important Irish legends, hazel is closely link to the creation of the river Shannon.

-Healing

The leaves, bark and young branches contain some active principles. Fruits contain lipid and protein, and leaves contain essential oils.
These active principles can be used as nutritive, healing and slimming.
And in the 16^th century, it was said that the mixture between hazelnut's ash and bear's fat could help hairs to grow, especially for bad people!

-Physical uses

Its wood is very flexible, and is useful for dowses, to find water.
It's cultivated in all Europe for its hazelnuts, but Turkey is the first producer and exporter in the world.
There are 2 kinds of hazelnuts: the one with a red pod, used for pastry, and the one with a white seed, used for confectionery.
With its bush's silhouette, hazel can do beautiful hedges in orchards. Indeed, they have this asset to be a good protection against wind, and are the refuge of numerous little animals, which like its fruits. For the house, the hazel's oil was used for lighting.