The Yew in History and Folklore

Yew is an otherworldly tree and was worshipped by the Druids. It is said that the Isle of Iona is named after the Gaelic for Yew - Iubhar. This was because Druids were said to worship Yew trees on the Island before St Columba arrived. Yew is also sacred to the Goddess Hecate and its branches and twigs were used in prophecy.
You will find Yew planted in many graveyards as an evergreen symbol of immortality. It was believed that the roots of the Yew grew down into the dead bodies to release the soul and purify the body - the trees were planted as a fertility gift to the earth.
There is an old Celtic story that tells of two lovers - Naoise and Deirdre who, after their deaths, had Yew stakes driven through their hearts to keep them apart in the afterlife, fortunately for the lovers this did not work. From the stakes two Yew trees sprouted and entwined above the graves keeping them together and giving them new life above the earth.
Yew is a quality wood and its staves were used in the making of wine barrels in Ireland.
The wood was also used in the making of bows and a deadly mixture of Yew Berry, Hellebore and Devils Bit was used to tip the arrows of the Celts to ensure their enemies death. It is thought that the word toxin comes from the Latin for Yew - Taxus.
Yew wood is an extremely strong wood and when seasoned and polished it has an uncanny ability to resist corruption.
Yew is also an extremely long-lived tree (the oldest tree standing is around 3500-4000 years old) and outlives even the stately Oak.