A Poplar Tree’s Symbolism in Slavic Folklore
It is May, and with summer on the horizon, Eastern European streets are about to be filled with poplar white fluff soon. Whether you like it or not, these trees are going to bloom. These tall and strong trees are associated with resilience and hope for a bright future because they are the first to bloom in spring. So get your inhaler, lighter, and camera ready, dandelions, as we embark on this journey of uncovering the mysteries surrounding the majestic poplar tree and its significance in Slavic culture.
Poplar tree — incredibly tall, its growth can exceed 30 meters with life lasting an average of 300–350 years. In Slavic folklore, the poplar tree is admired for its ability to stand tall and strong. On the one hand, this tree is often depicted as a steadfast and enduring symbol of protection and support. On the other hand, it is the unholy tree that attracts demons because it doesn’t bear fruit. There is no in-between.
A key characteristic of the poplar tree in Slavic folklore is its duality, represented by the nature of this tree. Male and female buds of poplar trees differ with female buds having fertile seeds with millions of them on average per typical tree. Conversely, male buds of the poplar tree don’t produce seeds and are a blessing to people with allergies. Even if you plant a male poplar tree, it doesn’t guarantee anything: a male plant can produce female catkins for unknown reasons. Thus, in Slavic folktales, the poplar embodies both male and female roles, reflecting the complexities of human nature.
The ballad “Topolina” tells the story of how an evil mother-in-law, after bidding her son farewell on a long journey, sends her daughter-in-law to fetch flax and turns her into a poplar tree. Another story is about a beautiful young woman. Every day she climbed up to the high grave, waiting and looking out for her sweetheart, who had gone to distant lands. Her friends advised her to seek the help of an old witch to help her cope with her grief. The old witch envied the beauty and youth of the woman and turned her into a tree, which people called poplar.
On the contrary, there is a legend about two warriors who defended their village from invaders. They went to fight an army to protect the village, using tree trunks as weapons. The invaders outnumbered the warriors, so they turned to God for help. And God heard them. Their feet turned into roots and they burrowed into the ground. They defeated the archers to their last breath but still emerged victorious. And then their hands turned into branches and their bodies into tree trunks. That is why a poplar tree stands tall and high.
Besides, poplar leaves fluttering without wind also have a meaning attached to them in Slavic folklore. The South Slavs, Bulgarians, Serbs, and Croats, believed that the poplar tree was cursed for not sheltering the Virgin Mary during the flight of the Holy Family. As per the Slavonian legend, when the Virgin Mary was fleeing from her pursuers with baby Jesus, she tried to hide under a poplar tree. However, the tree refused to shelter them, and as a result, she cursed the poplar tree to shiver forever even in good weather.
Yet, the poplar tree has symbolic significance in Christianity as a symbol of blessing and spiritual rebirth. Poplar is often associated with the cross on which Jesus was crucified, making it a symbol of faith.
Poplar has the status of a barren tree since its gifts aren’t used for food, so the Slavs often planted the tree in the cemetery and avoided planting it near inhabited houses. Bulgarians, for example, avoided poplars and other old trees as they believed the plague would climb up these trees and look out for its next victim. Also, a Slavic spirit Vila, who owns wells and lakes, is known to inhabit the tree. Poplar trees are commonly found along riverbanks and in rural areas, so no wonder why those spirits chose to settle there. However, Slavs often went to the tree to pass on illness to it through ritual.
Fun fact, as part of a post-war program to restore and green cities, poplar trees were planted in the former Soviet Union in the mid-20th century. These trees are many times better at cleaning the air of carbon dioxide and impurities than other types of trees. But its fluff is pretty in the picture and a nightmare for people with allergies, is in reality easily flammable. And you know what I did as a kid? My background isn’t fancy, so I spent a decent chunk of my childhood outdoors, going with other kids on the streets and burning the poplar’s tree fluff. When it burns, it looks cool. Don’t ever do it, it’s actually pretty dangerous, dandelions. Honestly, I don’t know how I made it.
May holidays wouldn’t be the same for Slavic people without the poplar tree. In Eastern and Western Slavs, poplar branches were sometimes used to decorate houses and other buildings on Pentecost. The ritual of getting rid of the disease used poplar branches. The Slavs broke off three poplar branches and threw them behind their backs, casting a spell for the disease to pass them by.
The Poplar tree’s presence in literature, folklore, and everyday life serves as a reminder of the enduring spirit of the Slavic people and their ability to overcome adversity and thrive in the face of challenges. Poplar wood is used in construction for furniture, shingles, matches, cardboard, and wooden utensils. Although the gifts of poplar trees aren’t used in cooking, it is widely used in traditional medicine. Poplar sap, for example, is used to improve hair health and treat intestinal diseases, and poplar buds can lower human body temperature and improve the digestive system. The bark and leaves of poplar trees are used in phytotherapy as an anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and antibacterial agent.
In classical literature, Apollon Grigoriev, a Russian poet, wrote a poem about a poplar tree in 1847 that started the poplar trend. Poets such as Afanasy Fet, Mikhail Kuzmin, and Robert Rozhdestvensky have used the symbolism of the tall tree and its shape to relate it to a plea to God. Also, various poems and songs celebrate the beauty and renewal that comes with the blooming of poplar trees.
Song Тополиный пух (or Poplar Fluff in English) from a band called Ivanushki International was extremely popular in the late 90th, even so, it became the top song of the Wild ’90s and early 2000s chart.
As the sun sets on our journey through Slavic folklore, we are reminded of the timeless wisdom encoded within the branches of the poplar tree. Its symbolism of resilience, new beginnings, and protection for all who seek its shelter from the summer heat. The poplar tree stands as a living testament to the strength and beauty of nature, reflecting the values and beliefs of the Slavic community. Thank you for joining us. May the spirit of the Poplar inspire you on your own journey through life’s ever-changing seasons and happy summer, dandelions.
