Finnish Tree Lore: Rowan and Lilac
Rowan is pretty easy to recognize, it has bright orange and red berries during autumn and white flowers and a grey trunk. Rowan is a masculine tree and represents the element of air.
The Finnish name for rowan is Pihlaja and it is a proto-Finno-Ugric word and pretty similar in all Finno-Ugric cultures. It is believed to be one of the oldest Finnish words. The word itself is thousands and thousands of years old. Pihla is also a Finnish name for a girl.
In Finnish mythology, rowan is connected to Akka the earth goddess. Akka is also known as Rauni, and Rauni's name comes from Swedish Rönn which in fact means rowan tree. Rowan is connected in Finland and in other cultures to the mother aspect, and other rowan tree goddesses are Brigit, Cailleach, Selene and Mother Earth.