Local superstitions
Kara: I was talking with a friend the other day about some superstitions and he said that in Ireland they have something called “fairy trees,”
Kara: which are supposed to be a place where fairies can go between their world and the human world.
Kara: Um, they’re technically hawthorn trees, um, and they often stand out from other trees because they usually grow alone and far away from other trees, but
Kara: it turns out that in Ireland, fairies aren’t really the sweet and tender beings that we see depicted in Disney movies, um, but rather they’re mischievous creatures.
Kara: Um, some believe that if you even step under or touch one of these trees that you’ll be cursed with eternal bad luck.
Kara: Um, he said that the one behind his house had lots of old footballs and toys that got kicked under there by accident because no one will go under the tree to pick them up. Um, because they don’t want to get cursed.
Kara: Uh, and apparently these trees have also caused issues, um, with building roads because people are so scared of being cursed by the fairies for savagely cutting down one of their trees.
Kara: So, road work has been delayed or even re-routed because of these trees!
Vocabulary:
the other day – a phrase referring to a time in the recent past, usually a few days or weeks ago, “I ran into an old high school friend the other day while grocery shopping.”
superstitions – beliefs or practices resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, or trust in magic or luck, “Friday the 13th is the source of many common superstitions around the world.”
fairy trees – specific trees in Irish folklore, usually hawthorns, believed to be sacred entryways or homes for fairies, “Local farmers often refuse to cut down fairy trees because they fear the wrath of the spirits.”
supposed to be – generally assumed, believed, or expected to be something, “The new restaurant was supposed to be the best in town, but the food was quite disappointing.”
technically – according to the exact facts or strict interpretation of a rule or definition, “Although everyone calls it a vegetable, a tomato is technically a fruit.”
hawthorn trees – thorny shrubs or trees belonging to the rose family, typically having white or pink blossoms and small red berries, “In May, the countryside is filled with blooming hawthorn trees.”
stand out from – to be much more noticeable, superior, or prominent than others around it, “Her bright red coat made her stand out from the crowd of people dressed in black.”
turns out – proves to be the case or develops in a specific, unexpected way, “I thought the exam would be impossible, but it turns out I worried for nothing.”
tender – showing gentleness, kindness, or affection, “The mother gave her crying child a tender hug to soothe his fears.”
depicted – represented or shown in a drawing, painting, film, or story, “The ancient king was depicted as a fierce warrior in the palace murals.”
mischievous creatures – living beings that playfully or maliciously cause minor trouble, damage, or annoyance, “The raccoons proved to be mischievous creatures when they knocked over all our trash cans.”
step under – to walk or move underneath a specific structure or object, “You should step under the awning to get out of the heavy rain.”
cursed – afflicted with a spell, jinx, or bad luck due to a supernatural force, “The sailors believed their ship was cursed after they saw a ghostly light on the water.”
eternal bad luck – a continuous, never-ending streak of misfortune or hardship, “Breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years of misfortune, but messing with spirits brings eternal bad luck.”
by accident – unintentionally; by chance or mistake, “She deleted the important file by accident while cleaning up her computer desktop.”
apparently – according to what seems to be true or what is reported, though it may not be entirely certain, “Apparently, the train is delayed because of a mechanical issue on the tracks.”
caused issues – created problems, difficulties, or complications for a situation, “The heavy snowfall caused issues for commuters trying to get to work on time.”
savagely – in a fierce, brutal, or violently destructive manner, “The old forest was savagely cleared to make room for a new shopping mall.”
delayed – postponed or made late; slowed down, “Our flight to London was delayed by three hours due to thick fog.”
re-routed – directed or channeled along a different path or route, “Traffic was re-routed through a quiet residential neighborhood because of the highway accident.”