If you’ve ever seen a tree draped in colorful glass bottles, you might have thought it was just a creative garden ornament. But bottle trees hold a much deeper meaning—one that stretches back to African folklore and spiritual practices.
This tradition originated in Central Africa and was brought to America by enslaved Africans. In their new homeland, the bottle tree evolved, merging African spirituality with Southern culture. The belief was that evil spirits, attracted by the bottles’ reflective surfaces, would enter them and become stuck. Sunlight would then destroy the trapped spirits, while the wind’s whispers through the bottles served as a reminder of their presence.
Bottle trees were often placed near doorways, gardens, or cemeteries as a form of spiritual protection. Families used whatever bottles they had—medicine bottles, soda bottles, or wine bottles—making each tree unique. Today, people love bottle trees for their artistic charm, but their true significance lies in their history. They represent survival, cultural pride, and the unbroken connection to ancestral wisdom.
