The Black Elderberry is one of the most common shrub varieties in Central Europe. Its white blossoms and the black berries have long been and are still known as a remedy and for the extraction of juice.
For our ancestors, the black elderberry was a markedly holy shurb as it was considered the tree of life and home of Mother Hulda. Moreover, it was the dwelling of the good household spirits and it was a capital sin to lift an elder bush or to make firewood out of its boughs. As it used to be the home of the household spirits, back in the days, each house had one elder bush at least. In former days, in the time of our grandparents, is was customary to doff one's hat when passing an elder bush, so sacred was it to them.
The blossoms are deep-fried. Furthermore, the well-known elderflower syrup is made from them. The black berries, which are rich in vitamin C and anthocyanidins, are cooked into juice or jam. The berries shouldn't be eaten raw as they are slightly poisonous.
Elder is a markedly good herbal remedy and, in former days, no home medicine chest could be imagined without it. It's applied against colds, kidney diseases, bladder troubles, or the flu. Welcoming winter without having drunk elder juice or having eaten elder soup was inconceivable in former days.
Elder is often used in protective fumigations.
