TheAskafroa (Swedish:wife of the ash tree),[1] also known as the DanishAskefrue and GermanEschenfrau (German:[ˈɛʃn̩ˌfʁaʊ]), is a type oflegendary creature inScandinavian and possibly[citation needed]German folklore, similar to the GreekHamadryads. The Askafroa is the guardian (tutelary deity) of theash tree.[1] The Askafroa was thought to be a malicious creature that did much damage, and to appease her, it was necessary to make a sacrifice to her onAsh Wednesday.[2][3]
The Swedish scholarHyltén-Cavallius recorded in his ethnographic workWärend och Wirdarne a belief of a female creature living in the ash tree, in LjunitHundred. The elders sacrificed to the Askafroa on the morning ofAsh Wednesday. Before the sun had risen, they poured water over the roots of the ash tree. While doing this, they said: "Nu offrar jag, så gör du oss ingen skada", meaning "Now I sacrifice [to you], so that you do us no harm". Hyltén-Cavallius further writes that they believed that if anyone broke branches or twigs from the ash tree, they would become ill.[3]
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