Chatting with Fr Sean after Mass this morning, I heard for the first time the tradition of tying pieces of cloth or thread around trees and bushes in the Catholic tradition. I've heard and seen it being practiced very much among the Hindus in India. However, never knew that even among Catholics there is a similar tradition - and perhaps for the same purpose. People tie pieces of thread or colourful cloth pieces around tree branches or bushes as a sort of intention, either for oneself or for someone else. Fr Sean said that this was a popular practice of piety when he was a boy in Ireland, especially on a feast day like today, the Assumption. People would go in procession or just visit the holy wells, recite the rosary have a sort of prayer service and carry out this ritual before returning home. It is said that the wells reminded the Christians of the pool of Siloam and the rags tied to the trees as prayers for some healing. However, this tradition could be dating back to the Romans, before Christianity.
Well, that's new information! Lovely to hear of this affinity between worship and nature in the Christian tradition. Did some search on the net and read something more about this great connection here! Most surprised to hear for the first time of this tradition of tying rags to trees in the Catholic tradition.
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