2013Myths and Flora - Turkey Oak - Miniature Sheet

Turkey oak (Quercus cerris) of the genus oak is a deciduous tree of hilly and karst forests that grows 25-40 meters high. The fruit is a large acorn, 3-4 cm long and 2 cm broad. It is widespread in South-Eastern Europe, Asia Minor and in the Apennines. The word cer is borrowed from Latin. The older writers called it dub, oak. The word cerrus in Latin is probably borrowed form some Mediterranean language because Turkey oak is species that grows on rocky Mediterranean soil. Toponyms are often named after Turkey oak: Cer (mountain and village), Cerić, Cerno, Cerovac, Cerik, Cerjak, Cerje etc.
Turkey oak is demonic and shady tree. In ancient legends, it was claimed that the fairies are seen under the Turkey oak at night. Therefore its wood had been selected for magical records. Its wood was gladly taken for the Christmas Eve. If there was no oak near, sometimes the host would brought the oaks branch to the house and ask the rest of the family do they glorify the young God. When he received the positive answer, he was blessing for fertility with oaks branch and after the ceremony he put it into the wall above the fireplace. When a girl wants to have baby boys, she has to mention oak tree at the wedding ceremony. Somewhere in the village the solitary oak was considered as the patron of the place and nobody was allowed to cut it off. If it had a cavity, barren women would wriggle through it in order to conceive.
In folk believes, Turkey oak is the happy tree. But the danger is that lightening often strikes at it. In folk medicine oak bark was used in wine as the drug of