In Ireland, the tying of a rag on the Hawthorn tree dates back to pre-Christian times. The rag acts as a carrier for peoples’ hopes, aspirations and wishes.

This ritual is a manifestation of an enduring belief in the potency of myth and the tenacity of human hope. The Rag Tree represents affirmation and faith in something that is greater than ourselves. It is a faith that survives beneath the sophisticated veneer of contemporary culture.