Table 2 Family/Personal Issues/Respect of the tree
From: Rituals, ceremonies and customs related to sacred trees with a special reference to the Middle East
Issue | Druze (n = 34) | Bedouin (n = 29) | Arab (n = 45) | Field obser-vations (n = 26) | References from the Middle East and adjacent regions | World references |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rag tying | 73.5 | 68.9 | 84.4 | 100 | Middle East (21 and references therein). | Many countries all over the globe (See 21, and references therein) |
Placing object for the absorbing of Barakeh/divine blessing | 38.2 | 37.9 | 71.1 | 57.6 | Israel(22: Passim, 176:48,51) | Â |
Personal vows/requests/petitions for health/wishing tree/ | 58.8 | 62.0 | 71.1 | 15.3 | Israel (19: passim,, 20, passim, 21:passim, 22: passim, 177:176, 136:79); Syria (145:296, 178:173) | Scotland (179:499); Estonia (180:4) ; Serbia (30:97); Russia (106:322); East Africa (45:4, 150:263); Sierra Leone (126:48); Guinea – Bissau (159:389); Chad (181:248); India (182:353, 183:55–59, 184:43); Japan (185:23; 186:10); Australia, New Zealand (14:164) |
Weddings | 17.1 | 51.7 | 28.8 | 15.3 | Israel (20: passim) | India (76:91, 39:175, 187:62) |
Lighting candle/lamps | 23.5 | 24.1 | 31.1 | 65.3 | Israel (136:79, 176:43); Lebanon (144:34); Turkey (88:216, 89:80, 188:41) | Balkan (188:41); Russia (31:94); Uganda (189:461): Armenia (190:II:173); India (93:87) |
Hammering of nails | 8.8 | 17.2 | 8.9 | 23.0 | Israel (:24:7–8); Egypt (95:27); Turkey (89:80); Kurdistan (88:216) | Europe (84: passim); Russia (106:320); Ireland (105:195). India (92:97, 93:182); West Himalaya (94:xxi) |
Placing stones on/under the tree Leaving stones on the tree or in heaps/cairns | 2.9 | 10.3 | 8.9 | 26.9 | Ancient Israel (101:212); Israel (177:76); Muslim world (88:211) | Russia (191:114); India (103:19, 1921:457, 458); Korea (60:44); |
Incense (as a part of a personal form of praying) | 5.9 | 17.2 | 24.41 | 19.2 | Israel (193:359); Syria (144:297) | India (51:66); Armenia (190:II:173); |
Funeral/burial under the tree/at the sacred grove (also of leaders and heroes) | 0 | 24.1 | 20.0 | 23.0 Existing tombs/cemet eries | Ancient Israelites, (Genesis 35:8); Israel (137:37, 136:74). | Mongolia (129:280); Zimbabwe (194:200, 195:164); Kenya (196:6); Ghana (197:34, 198:225); Mozambique(122:229); Tanzania (199:59); Okinawa (161:48); |
Tree Embracing/touching/kissing | 55.9 | 6.9 | 4.4 | 7.7 | Â | Ancient Rome (200, XVI: 242); |
Leaving objects/food under tree as charity | 26.4 | 20.6 | 15.5 | 30.7 | Â | Â |
Praying while passing near the tree | 0 | 6.9 | 7.7 | 0 | Â | Â |
Cleaning around the tree | 5.9 | 10.3 | 2.2 | 23.0 | Â | Â |