Folklore
The Sorbus Aucuparia is also known as the rowan, mountain-ash, wittern,whitty, wiggen, and quickbeam. It is believed to have protective magical powers against different kinds of witchcraft. This was a common belief in Britain. Rowan twigs were placed over the bed in Lancashire to give a person peaceful sleep. In some places, such as North Yorkshire, people made "witch wood" out of rowan twigs and placed them above beds and doorways to ward off witches.
In the United Kingdom, where it is often known as the wiggen tree, the Mountain Ash has traditionally been used as an anti-witching device.
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