For the last performance in my Tree Calendar (working title) I planned to look for an elder somewhere in the eastern part of Helsinki, which I hardly know compared to the central or western areas. Searching on-line I found a mention of an elder (Sambucus nigra) in Kivikko near a dog park, and aimed to go there after visiting the trees in Kaivopuisto which I have visited regularly this year. While there, I remembered the red-berried elder (Sambucus racemosa) up on the hill, which i have passed so many times, and decided to try if I could find a suitable framing of that one. The day was rather cold, which meant that finally the snow stayed on the ground, instead of immediately turning into water. The landscape looked great, and everybody else seemed to have notices that, too. The park was full of people jogging or walking their dogs, enjoying the fresh air after days of rain. And they all wanted to follow the path next to the elder, so they ended in my video. The passers-by fire prominently in the images, because I am – for once – barely visible sitting on the low branches of the elder, partly covered by the cliff. I made an other session standing next to the elder, leaning on it lightly, just in case. Both videos, Elder in December 1 (13 min. 38 sec.) and Elder in December 2 (8 min. 59 sec.) are available on the Research Catalogue, here.
 
The Elder is the tree of the thirteenth month in the ancient lunar Tree calendar of the Celts and the dates for the month of the elder are, according to the source I have used, 24 November to 23 December. There is something fascinating in the idea of naming a calendar after trees, and you would expect there to be some connection to the time of year that tree would be particularly beautiful or useful, blooming or breaking fruit etc. But I have not really found much connections, perhaps because the climate is different here in the north. The elder is connected to death and renewal, and in that sense suitable for endings as well. Perhaps I will create another tree calendar in Stockholm next year…