Willow: Difference between revisions
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Willows have slender, pliant and elastic branches. Stripped from their leaves, these are suitable for wickerwork (e.g. baskets), brooms, and are also sometimes used for spanking implements. | Willows have slender, pliant and elastic branches. Stripped from their leaves, these are suitable for wickerwork (e.g. baskets), brooms, and are also sometimes used for spanking implements. | ||
== Pussy Willow == | |||
Pussy willow is a name given to many of the smaller species of the genus Salix (willows and sallows) when their furry catkins are young in early spring. These species include (among many others): | |||
: Goat willow or goat sallow (Salix caprea) is a small tree native to northern Europe and northwest Asia. | |||
: Grey willow or grey sallow (Salix cinerea) is a small tree native to northern Europe. | |||
: American pussy willow (Salix discolor) is native to northern North America. | |||
Before the male catkins of these species come into full flower, they are covered in fine, greyish fur, leading to a fancied likeness to tiny cats, also known as “pussies”. The catkins appear long before the leaves and are one of the earliest signs of spring. At other times of the year, trees of most of these species are usually known by their ordinary names. | |||
== Use for spanking == | == Use for spanking == | ||
They are either used as single willow switches | They are either used as single willow switches or a bundle of thin willow rods is bound together in the fashion of a [[birch]]. Another technique is to braid several rods together -- this is found in some European [[Easter and spanking]] traditions. | ||
The willow as a chastisement instrument is featured in the British folk song [[The Bitter Withy]]. | The willow as a chastisement instrument is featured in the British folk song [[The Bitter Withy]]. | ||
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Latest revision as of 13:30, 9 September 2022
Willow refers to a family of trees and shrubs from the genus Salix. They are primarily found on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. A well-known willow hybrid is the Weeping willow.
Willows have slender, pliant and elastic branches. Stripped from their leaves, these are suitable for wickerwork (e.g. baskets), brooms, and are also sometimes used for spanking implements.
Pussy Willow
Pussy willow is a name given to many of the smaller species of the genus Salix (willows and sallows) when their furry catkins are young in early spring. These species include (among many others):
- Goat willow or goat sallow (Salix caprea) is a small tree native to northern Europe and northwest Asia.
- Grey willow or grey sallow (Salix cinerea) is a small tree native to northern Europe.
- American pussy willow (Salix discolor) is native to northern North America.
Before the male catkins of these species come into full flower, they are covered in fine, greyish fur, leading to a fancied likeness to tiny cats, also known as “pussies”. The catkins appear long before the leaves and are one of the earliest signs of spring. At other times of the year, trees of most of these species are usually known by their ordinary names.
Use for spanking
They are either used as single willow switches or a bundle of thin willow rods is bound together in the fashion of a birch. Another technique is to braid several rods together -- this is found in some European Easter and spanking traditions.
The willow as a chastisement instrument is featured in the British folk song The Bitter Withy.
List of Spanking Implements |
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See "sting and thud" for more on this distinction. |
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