pfaat bore, bcyel^/, anS. bijric/, ^^y 



Figs implies an accession of wealth, prosperity, and happiness, 

 the realisation of wishes, and a happy old age. 



FILBERT. — John Gower, in his Confessio Amaiitis, suggests 

 that the origin of the word P^ilbert is to be sought in the metamor- 

 phosis of the Thracian princess Phyllis into a Nut-tree, or, more 

 precisely, into the Almond ; this view is strengthened by the facfl 

 that the old English names for both tree and nut was Fylberde, 

 or Filberd ; although another explanation of this word is that the 

 tree was so called after a King Philibert. In olden times the dis- 

 tincflion drawn between nuts of a good and those of the best 

 quality, was by terming the former the short-bearded, and the 

 latter the long-bearded, or full-bearded — whence, according to a 



popular belief, by corruption, Filbert. Authorities in dream lore 



tell us that to dream of Filberts is a happy augury, a sign of good 

 health and happy old age. It also denotes success in love, and 

 happiness in the married state, with a numerous family, who will 



marry well, and occupy a high place in society. Filbert-trees 



are held to be under the dominion of Mercury. 



FIR. — The ancient Egyptians adopted the Fir-cone as the 



symbol of their goddess Isis. The Fir is the Fire-tree, the most 



inflammable of woods. Gerarde writes of Firs in Cheshire, Staf- 

 fordshire, and Lancashire, "where they grew in great plenty, as is 

 reputed, before Noah's floud; but then being overturned and over- 

 whelmed, have lien since in the woods and waterie moorish grounds, 

 very fresh and sound, untill this day; and so full of a resinous 

 substance, that theyburne like a torch or linke, and the inhabitants 

 of those countries do call it Fir-wood and Fire-wood unto this 



day." In the traditions of northern countries, the Fir occupies 



a similar position to the Pine. He is king of the forest; and so, in 

 Switzerland and the Tyrol, the Geni of the Forest is always repre- 

 sented with an uprooted Fir-tree in his hand. This Geni dwells 

 by preference in the Fir, and especially loves old trees. When 

 one of these trees is cut down, the Geni grieves, and pleads for 

 its life. Old Firs, like old Oaks and Birches, are especially re- 

 spected when standing solitary. De Gubernatis relates an 



anecdote of a colossal Fir-tree which grew by itself, at Tarssok, in 

 Russia. This tree had withstood several lightning-blasts, and 

 was supposed to be several hundred years old, as shown by 

 its barkless trunk and its bare branches. At last, in a gale of wind, 

 it fell; but so great a respe(ft had the country-people for the old 

 tree, that they would not make any profit from the sale of the huge 



trunk, but presented the proceeds to the Church. In Denmark, 



Sweden, Russia, and Germany, they use the Fir as the Christmas- 

 tree, and this custom has now taken firm root in England. 



Just as in many parts of Germany, on Christmas-night, they beat 

 trees, so that they may bear fruit, so at Hildesheim in Hanover, 

 at Shrove-tide, the peasantry solicit gifts from the women, whipping 



z 



