As a Christian symbol, it seems appropriate that its resurrection took place in time for Easter. Glastonbury's Holy Thorn tree began to show new buds this week, three months after it was savagely cut down by vandals. According to legend, Joseph of Arimathea – who some say was Jesus's great-uncle – travelled to Wearyall Hill after the Crucifixion and stuck a wooden staff belonging to Jesus into the ground before he went to sleep. When he awoke, the tale goes, the staff had sprouted into a thorn tree, which became a shrine for Christians across Europe. Every year, the sacred tree flowered once at Christmas and once at Easter, until just before Christmas last year when it was vandalised, leaving the community of the small Somerset town fearing it was dead. (Daily Mail)
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Resurrection of the Holy Thorn Tree: Glastonbury's vandalised shrine comes back to life
As a Christian symbol, it seems appropriate that its resurrection took place in time for Easter. Glastonbury's Holy Thorn tree began to show new buds this week, three months after it was savagely cut down by vandals. According to legend, Joseph of Arimathea – who some say was Jesus's great-uncle – travelled to Wearyall Hill after the Crucifixion and stuck a wooden staff belonging to Jesus into the ground before he went to sleep. When he awoke, the tale goes, the staff had sprouted into a thorn tree, which became a shrine for Christians across Europe. Every year, the sacred tree flowered once at Christmas and once at Easter, until just before Christmas last year when it was vandalised, leaving the community of the small Somerset town fearing it was dead. (Daily Mail)