The St. Anna Linden Tree: The Tree of Death from Sleepy Hollow
Linden trees are among the most popular deciduous trees in Germany and played an important role in the Middle Ages and early modern times, whether as a court linden tree or as a place of community. Like no other tree, the lime tree stands for justice, love, peace, home, bravery, and victory. It is considered the people’s favorite tree and is a traditional cult tree. One such cult tree is the Annalinde in Kirchhausen. This tree, which is over 400 years old, is located on a hill between the Baden-Württemberg communities of Kirchhausen, Frankenbach, and Leingarten, and is surrounded by a gruesome legend. My path to this mighty tree led me from Schlosstraße Kirchhausen towards Konradsberg, where a dirt road branches off to the left. After a few minutes, I reached the small-leaved lime tree with its heart-shaped leaves and magnificent spreading crown. With its 7-meter-wide trunk and exposed location, the tree reminded me of the tree of death from the horror film Sleepy Hollow by American director Tim Burton, in which the Hessian Horseman buried the severed heads. The legend of St. Annalinde is similarly creepy. A chapel dedicated to Saint Anne, the mother of Mary, is said to have once stood on the site of the lime tree. A festival was celebrated in her honor every year in July. The chapel was surrounded by farmland, and the tenants of this farmland were obliged to donate six wax candles “the thickness and height of a strong, able-bodied man” every year on the feast day of the church saint. However, after the Reformation, the farmers wanted to escape this burden and hollowed out the candles to fill them with gunpowder. When the candles were lit during the festive service on St. Anne’s name day, there was a huge explosion. The priest and many worshippers were killed under the rubble of the collapsed chapel. To this day, a memorial stone and the Anna Cross with a wayside shrine of Anna and Mary commemorate the horrific deed. Since 2011, 270 steel cables have held the branches of the Annalinde together inside. I was impressed by this gigantic tree, which has been under nature protection since 1941. The place where it stands exudes something eerily beautiful. Perhaps because it reminded me so much of the Death Tree, the gateway to hell, from Sleepy Hollow. A mystical place, idyllically nestled among fields with an imposing linden tree that is second to none. I was overwhelmed by the natural wonder of the huge, old St. Annalinde, which, despite its seclusion, is a popular destination for excursions. According to tradition, the place is avoided on full moon nights because people are said to have seen eerie figures there. Whether this is truth or legend, who knows?
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