In winter months, those who place sprigs or boughs of the Evergreens in their home signify that they are a place of shelter for forest Sylvans, Sprites, Fae, and other small entities who need to seek shelter from a harsh winter. The Evergreen is typically placed somewhere warm in the home and near a window.
There is something so mystical an evergreen forest in winter, isn’t there?.
What Is a Forest Spirit?
Forest spirits are supernatural or spiritual being that have deep ties to forests, flowers, trees, plants, and sometimes even animals.
Because forest spirits encompass numerous cultures and traditions, there single account of what they really are outside of their natural ties. Forest spirits are vast in their identity. They can be sly tricksters or stalwart guardians of the land. In some cases, they could be tied to specific trees or portions of a forest. Or, they might span the entire woodland area.
Most commonly, forest spirits manifest with fae or fairy folk, sprites, dryads, and local spirits of a place.
Why Are Evergreens Associated With Winter?
Winter is powerful and transforming. It can be elegant and beautiful. But it can also be desolating. Flowers disappear. Crops struggle to survive and grow. Trees lose their leaves.
And yet the evergreen persists with its vibrant life.
That has made it stand as a symbol of persistence of life through the harshness of winter. This has lent itself to another form of symbolism: a home for the spirits.
Evergreens as Shelter for Forest Spirits
Evergreens in winter are beautiful, but they are also said to be homes of various forest spirits. One old legend is that they may reside in forest branches, and if someone brings an evergreen branch into their home, it can offer greater shelter for these spirits and help them escape the cold, dark winter. This idea has persisted in various contemporary accounts of modern Druid life and winter traditions.