Paper short abstract:

Trees are an important part of the cultural, sacred, imaginated and also private landscapes. This report is based on the digitized text corpus of tree lore of the database Arboretum. The poster presentation concerns tree lore from the mid-19th century to this day.

Paper long abstract:

Trees are an important part of the cultural, sacred, imaginated and also

private landscapes. This report is based on the digitized text corpus of

tree lore of the database Arboretum, compiled by Andres Kuperjanov. The

poster presentation concerns tree lore from the mid-19th century to this

day. The Arboretum contains several types of narratives:

a) Large or remarkable trees - symbols of local landscape.

b) Trees as witnesses of historical events (e.g., Pühajärve war oak)

c) Healing trees, sacrificial trees (e.g., the oak at Kuremäe abbey)

d) Predictions, prophesies (e.g., the tree of local witch Muhu Madli,

trees planted by a of Swedish king).

e) Mythical layer (e.g., people who changed into trees)

f) Cultural and economic spheres where trees serve as symbolic or tangible

parts of daily life.