5 June: Elderberries

In the French Revolutionary Calendar, this date was the Day of the Elderberry. 10 things you might not know about elderberries:

1. The scientific name for elder is Sambucus nigra. They belong to the Adoxaceae family, although in the past, they were classified as belonging to the Honeysuckle family.

2. It’s thought the name elder comes from the Anglo-Saxon word 'aeld', meaning Fire, because the hollow stems were used as bellows to blow air into the centre of a fire. Hollowed elderberry twigs have also been used to tap maple trees for syrup, and used as flutes, blowguns, and syringes.

3. Elder grows in temperate to subtropical regions, often near farms and homes. It likes soil rich in nitrogen and so is often found near places where there is organic waste. It’s often found near Rabbit warrens or Badger setts, where the animals distribute the seed via their droppings.

4. It is also known as the ‘Judas tree’ as Judas Iscariot is said to have hanged himself from an elder tree.

5. It’s said that planting elder near your home will keep Witches and the devil away, although burning the wood is said in some traditions to summon the devil, and witches are said to congregate under the trees, especially when they are full of fruit.

6. According to folklore, if an elder tree is cut down, a spirit known as the Elder Mother would be released and take her revenge. Chanting a rhyme to the Elder Mother as you cut the tree down will protect you from her wrath.

7. The fruits of elderberry are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, B Vitamins, and minerals like Zinc, Iron, selenium, calcium, and manganese. However, eating of unripe berries or any other part of the plant isn’t a good idea because they’re toxic, containing cyanide, and could kill you.

8. St-Germain, a French liqueur, is made from elderflowers, and Hallands Fläder, a Swedish akvavit, is flavoured with them.

9. Elton John's 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player features a song titled "Elderberry Wine".

10. In Monty Python and the Holy Grail, John Cleese as the French Taunter tells the knights of Camelot, "Your mother was a Hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries."

Character birthday

Priestess of Punk: Priscilla Brinkley was born into a middle class family. At fifteen, she became disillusioned with school and tired of the athletics and gymnastics teams she belonged to. She adopted a punk lifestyle. To begin with, it was purely to alienate her family. Her romance with Chris Lang, the most aggressive, violent and debauched member of the gang was initially begun because she knew her family wouldn't approve. She moved into a squat with him. Eventually, the house was sold. Priscilla and Chris waited for the new owner to arrive, intent on killing him; but the new owner was Leopold Smythe-Warner, another middle class punk, who was delighted to find squatters living in his house. Rather than throw them out, he moved in with them. In due course, Priscilla dumped Chris for Leopold. Also living in the house was a mutated rat, Ratty Scrawny Punko, who became their pet.