Thanks again to Jane Lawson, who has forwarded the following from  #FolkloreSunday:

‘4th December is St Barbara’s Day. On this day there was an old tradition amongst country folk to cut a “Barbara Branch” from a cherry [Prunus cv.] tree.  The branch was kept in a pot of water by the stove, and if it blossomed by Christmas all their wishes would be fulfilled.’

As is usual in statements of this kind, we don’t know when and where this custom was practised; please send any comments to roy@plant-lore.com