They can be found in deciduous groves and at the edge of forests. The name linden is derived from the Greek word Philyra, meaning nymph, a mythological creature. She is said to have been transformed into a lime tree by the gods when she begged them not to send her to ordinary mortals. For the Slavs, she even became their symbol. Our ancestors offered sacrifices to pagan deities. The linden itself was dedicated to the revered goddess Lada. Lada became a symbol of spring, love, marriage, sowing and ploughing. In the past, linden wood was attributed with magical powers in the fight against magical creatures, demons and vampires. It was said that a house near which a lime tree grows would be avoided by lightning. The whole household and the surroundings of the dwellings were purified with lime wood. The linden tree also provided peace of mind in the house and protective amulets were often made from the linden tree. Let's face it, the pompous crowns of these magnificent trees are enchanting, so it is no wonder that they have been attributed magical powers.
The oldest lime tree in our territory is a little over 700 years old. It grows in the park in Bojnice and is named after the famous King Matej. It is also protected by the state. According to legend, it was planted in 1301 by Matúš Čák Trenčiansky and later the aforementioned Matěj Korvín fell platonically in love with it and liked to sit under its crown. As far as the history is concerned, after the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918, a new state was born on the map, but at the same time the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, of which we were a part, was also disappearing. There was therefore a liberation of peoples. On this occasion, politicians visited all the regions of the new homeland and planted commemorative 'lime trees of freedom' in the towns in honour of freedom. The next revolution, this time anti-communist, came in 1993 and brought to the limelight the representative of the reform attempt, Alexander Dubček. In 1990 he planted a small linden tree with his own name on the square in front of the gymnasium in Skalica. We could write for a long time about various historical events connected with linden trees, so let's discuss other advantages of this tree.
Lime trees can grow up to 40 metres high, which is why they are considered to be massive trees. Their leaves have an interesting heart-shaped form and their flowers have a striking, pleasant scent. Lime blossoms are a great attraction for bees, especially at flowering time, which then produce excellent lime honey. Dried linden flowers are well known in our area. They relax the respiratory tract, relieve swelling and inflammation, and lower blood pressure. They are used to make tea, which can be flavoured with lime honey. Linden wood is adored by woodcarvers because of its whitish colour. It is a hard wood that is both soft and malleable, so it is great to work with. Wooden statuettes, model cars and planes, or carving small details are a hobby for anyone who loves working with wood.
Skilled hands can also make toys, musical instruments, as well as baskets for food, plates, buckets and decorative bowls out of lime wood. Unlike other woods, lime wood is not very useful in the joinery and furniture industry because of its shorter life span. It is also favoured by woodworms, which also does not contribute to its longevity. Lime wood is used to make powdered charcoal, which has similar effects to animal charcoal. It is said that if a linden tree appears in your dreams, it will bring great happiness and fulfilled desires into your life. There is no doubt that it is a truly positive tree.
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