Marshall McClung
When April arrives, woodland areas begin to join in on presenting spring blooms.
You may notice trees with white blooms appearing on mountainsides. This would be the serviceberry tree, a member of the rose family.
You may hear some locals – especially older ones – call it a “sarvice tree.” This was the way it is pronounced in Appalachian English. The tree got its name from the fact that blooms from it were used as decorations in a service (or “sarvice,” depending on where you are from), such as wedding or funerals.
Another tree that blooms about this time is the dogwood. There is a legend connecting the tree with Easter, in that the dogwood was once a large tree until its wood was used to make a cross to crucify Christ. Also, the bloom is said to resemble a cross.
My father did not want dogwood trees cut for any reason on our property. We were under strict orders to not even break a limb off a dogwood tree. When we moved off the mountainside from our log house and down to our new home on Atoah Road in 1958, he planted a row of dogwood trees along the edge of the yard.
The Easter season was held in high reverence in earlier days, much more than now. On Good Friday, the day Christ was said to have been crucified, women would not wash linens – as the body of Christ was wrapped in linen. Carpenters would not drive nails on that day, as Christ was nailed to the cross. Miners absolutely refused to go underground, saying that the earth was cursed when Christ was placed in the tomb.
Easter brings a feeling of both sadness and joy at the same time: sadness that Christ had to die, gladness that he died for us – no doubt difficult for some to understand.
Marshall McClung is the historical columnist for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, mcclungs@email.com.