Why do people hang glass bottles in trees? The belief that spirits could live in these bottles quickly followed. The hope was that by hanging the bottles in a tree, evil spirits would find their way into the wine bottles and become stuck.
Why do they put glass bottles in trees?
Glass bottles began circulating through Africa, Egypt, and Mesopotamia in 1600 BC. The belief that spirits could live in these bottles quickly followed. The hope was that by hanging the bottles in a tree, evil spirits would find their way into the wine bottles and become stuck.
What is the spiritual meaning of hanging bottles over trees?
In more recent decades this practice has spread throughout the country and has become largely decorative. However, less than a century ago, the act of placing bottles over tree branches or tying them to limbs was a spiritual act rooted in voodoo and witchcraft.
Where do they hang bottles in trees?
While Europeans adapted the bottle tree idea into hollow glass spheres known as “ witch balls ,” the practice of hanging bottles in trees became widespread in the plantation regions of Southern states and from there migrated north and inland into Appalachia. Traditionally the bottles are placed on the branches of a crepe myrtle tree.
Why are there so many bottles hanging upside down in trees?
Has the neighborhood seen a sudden upsurge of bottles dangling upside down in the trees? Glass ‘bottle trees’ originated in ninth century Kongo during a period when superstitious Central African people believed that a genii or imp could be captured in a bottle.
What color is a bottle tree?
Bottle tree colors can range from blue, to clear, to brown, but cobalt blue are always preferred: in the Hoodoo folk-magic tradition, the elemental blues of water and sky place the bottle tree at a crossroads between heaven and earth, and therefore between the living and the dead.
Do trees need to be populated with bottles?
Trees need not be thickly populated with bottles. Malevolent spirits, on the prowl during the night, enter the bottles where they become trapped by an ‘encircling charm.’. It is said that when the wind blows past the tree, you can hear the moans of the ensnared spirits whistling on the breeze.
What is the bottle tree connected to?
A number of scholars believe that the bottle tree is connected to the evolution of the witch bottle as protective magic.
Why do bottle trees make a sound?
Certain types of trees are associated with bottle tree magic because of their spiritual significance. Some say that when the wind blows, causing a sound to emit from the bottles, it is actually the death moans of evil beings. In some areas, the bottles are hung from the tree with twine, but in most places, they are actually stuck right on ...
What is the bottle tree?
Typically made from blue bottles, the bottle tree is said to trap evil spirits and keep them out of your home.
What color bottles are used on a tree?
Although in some places the bottles on the tree are multicolored, traditionally cobalt blue is used. Blue has been, for many years, associated with spirits and ghosts in Southern folk magic. You can use wine bottles, apothecary bottles, or even the blue glass ones that products like milk of magnesia used to come in.
Where did bottle trees originate?
Felder Rushing, author of Bottle Trees and Other Whimsical Glass Art for the the Garden, says, “For years I subscribed to the common thread of lore that dates the origin of bottle trees to the Congo area of Africa in the 9th Century A.D.
What does the wind blowing from the bottle mean?
Graham goes on to say that when the wind blows, causing a sound to emit from the bottles, it is actually the death moans of evil beings. Lowery is a folk magic practitioner who lives in western Kentucky. He says,
Why do bottles have to be tied to trees?
In early days, bottles would be tied to trees near a prominent public location in order to capture any spirits which may be traveling. Photo courtesy Pag Asa.
What is the act of placing bottles over tree branches?
However, less than a century ago, the act of placing bottles over tree branches or tying them to limbs was a spiritual act rooted in voodoo and witchcraft.
What is the bottle tree?
Lowcountry Life: The legend of the bottle tree. One of the many traditions steeped in local Lowcountry history is the bottle tree. Over the centuries, the Gullah culture of our sea islands has lent many legends and superstitions to the rest of the Lowcountry and beyond, and the belief in spirits is one of them.
Why do Africans use blue bottles?
The use of blue bottles is to attract the spirits and once they’re in the bottle, they can’t get out.
Where did bottle trees originate?
There is some controversy surrounding the true origin of the bottle tree, Some historians believe that the practice originated the Congo area of Africa sometime in the 9th century, and others follow it back as far as 1600 B.C. to the ancient Egyptians.
Do garden decorations look pretty?
But not here in the Lowcountry. Yes, they do look pretty in the garden.
What is a bottle tree?
Article Summary X. A bottle tree is a great way to reuse old bottles and create an eye-catching sculpture. You’ll need at least a dozen wine and spirits bottles to make your bottle tree, but you can add bottles to the tree over time.
Where did the bottle tree come from?
A bottle tree is a type of recycled glass sculpture that is popular with gardeners. Its origins lay in Egypt, where bottles were used to capture spirits. African slaves also kept bottle trees near their quarters to catch spirits with brightly colored glass. To make your own bottle tree, you will need to collect bottles and construct a wooden ...
What color bottles are good for recycling?
You can even make a recycling drive for old glass bottles. Give preference to blue bottles. In the folklore associated with bottle trees, blue is the best color for deterring spirits. Sky vodka bottles can be combined with almost any other color of bottle for a multi-colored bottle tree. Remove the labels.
How to remove sticky labels from a drink?
Unless you want to advertise your favorite drink, you can remove the labels by soaking them in a mixture of vinegar and water. Remove stubborn labels with Goo Gone, or a similar orange cleaner. The place where the label was may be sticky so you should clean it thoroughly until the glue is completely gone.
How to remove labels from sky vodka?
Remove the labels. Unless you want to advertise your favorite drink, you can remove the labels by soaking them in a mixture of vinegar and water. Remove stubborn labels with Goo Gone, or a similar orange cleaner.
Why do people hang plastic bags?
The water-filled bags typically are used with the hope they will effectively deter flies from entering the structure or otherwise hovering around the area.
Why are water bags hung?
Clear, water-filled, sandwich- or gallon-sized bags are hung, especially where food is frequently present, in an attempt to deter flies and other insects without using pesticides.
How effective is a water bag?
The bag likely is most effective if it is filled about 2/3 full and moves slightly in a breeze. Some people may place a few pennies in the water bag in an attempt to further enhance the effect.
