Glastonbury Thorn
The legendary Glastonbury Thorn, a mystical tree famed for blooming at Christmas and Easter.
Introduction#
The Glastonbury Thorn is a legendary tree deeply rooted in the folklore and history of Glastonbury, England. Said to have sprung from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea, it is famed for its unusual ability to bloom twice a year – around Christmas and Easter – making it a symbol of the blending of Christian and pagan traditions.
Over centuries, the thorn has inspired myths, royal gifts, and enduring local reverence, even surviving tales of destruction during turbulent times. Today, its descendants continue to bloom, carrying forward a story that intertwines faith, legend, and the mystical landscape of Somerset.
Epithets | —
Alternative Names | Flowering Thorn, Glastonbury Holy Thorn, Holy Thorn, Saint Joseph’s Thorn
Origins and Medieval Legend#
According to tradition, Joseph of Arimathea — the biblical figure who provided the tomb for Christ — journeyed to Britain after the Crucifixion. When he arrived at Wearyall Hill, he thrust his wooden staff into the ground. The staff took root and blossomed into a thorn tree.
A medieval source, The Lyfe of Joseph of Armathy (c. 1350), recounts this miracle, placing the event within the broader sacred history of Glastonbury. In later retellings, the staff itself was said to have been cut from the Crown of Thorns, deepening the tree’s symbolic connection to Christ.
The Twice-Flowering Thorn#
The Glastonbury Thorn is traditionally described as blooming twice each year:
– Around Christmas
– Again in spring, near Easter
This unusual characteristic enhanced its mystical reputation. Botanically, the tree is generally identified as a form of Crataegus monogyna (hawthorn), specifically a bi-flowering variety sometimes called biflora. Though rare, winter flowering in certain cultivated hawthorns is not impossible — yet in legend it was regarded as miraculous. The Christmas flowering became central to local custom, reinforcing the belief that the tree bore divine favour.
Royal and Civic Tradition#
For centuries, cuttings from the Thorn and its descendants were carefully propagated. A sprig from the tree growing near the Church of St John the Baptist is traditionally sent each Christmas to the reigning British monarch — a custom that continues today.
Through this ceremony, the Thorn remains not only a relic of legend but a living participant in national ritual.
Destruction in the English Civil War#
The original tree on Wearyall Hill was reportedly cut down in 1643 during the English Civil War. According to tradition, a Puritan soldier felled it under orders from Parliament, as symbols associated with monarchy and “superstition” were targeted at the time.
Local legend, however, insists that divine retribution followed: one assailant supposedly struck the tree with an axe that rebounded into his own leg, while wood chips flew into his eyes. Whether folklore or embellishment, such stories reinforced the Thorn’s sacred status.
Though the original tree was lost, cuttings survived, and descendants were replanted throughout the town.
The Walnut Tree Variant#
An alternative legend describes not a thorn but a walnut tree, likewise said to have sprung from Joseph’s staff. Early writers claimed it budded annually on Saint Barnabas’ Day (11 June) and never before. Some traditions suggest that both trees — thorn and walnut — once stood in Glastonbury and were equally revered. Over time, however, the Thorn became the dominant symbol.
Modern Vandalism and Removal#
In December 2010, the Glastonbury Thorn growing on Wearyall Hill – a specimen planted in 1951 to replace the earlier Civil War-era tree – was deliberately vandalised. Its branches were cut off in what was widely regarded as a symbolic attack on one of Glastonbury’s most cherished landmarks.
In March 2011, reports noted that new shoots had begun to grow from the damaged tree, raising hopes of recovery. However, these shoots repeatedly disappeared within days or weeks, leading to further concern and speculation locally.
On 1 April 2012, a sapling grafted from a descendant of the earler tree was planted on Wearyall Hill in cooperation with the landowners and the Glastonbury Conservation Society. The tree was ceremonially consecrated. Sixteen days later, it was snapped in half and irreparably damaged.
In May 2019, the remaining tree on Wearyall Hill was completely removed by the landowner.
These events marked a significant turnt in the modern story of the Glastonbury Thorn. While the hilltop tree no longer stands, other descendants trees survive in Glastonbury – including the specimen near the Church of St John the Baptist – ensuring that the tradition continues despite repeated loss.
Botanical and Historical Speculation#
Modern specimens identified as descendants of the Glastonbury Thorn are thought to be of Mediterranean origin. This has led to speculation that the original plant may have been introduced from abroad — possibly by returning crusaders, or through medieval trade routes. While historians debate the literal truth of the legend, its cultural endurance is unquestionable.
Symbolism#
The Glastonbury Thorn represents: the arrival of Christianity in Britain, the blending of Christian and pre-Christian sacred landscape traditions, Glastonbury’s repuration as a mystical centre, and the continuity between legend and living custom. It stands as one of Britain’s most enduring sacred trees – part miracle story, part national myth, and part botanical curiosity.
Sources#
The Lyfe of Joseph of Armathy | c. 1350
Early antiquarian accounts of Somerset
Botanical studies of Crataegus monogyna biflora
