Why did we pick the name Hollow Hills for our Grove?

Hollow Hills are scattered all over the landscapes of The United Kingdom, Ireland and other places in Continental Europe. These Hollow Hills are chambered burial mounds. They are also sometimes called barrows, passage tombs, fairy mounds or chambered cairns.

It is said that ancient peoples often thought that these mounds were a place between this world and the other world. It was thought that the gods or ancestors resided in these mounds and this was a place to meet with and honour them.

In Irish mythology they are thought to be the remains of the underground kingdom. In the Lebor Gabála Érenn (The Book of Invasions), the Túatha Dé Danann (The People of the Goddess Danu) were defeated in battle by the Milesians. As part of the terms of the battle, the Túatha Dé Danann agreed to dwell underground in the mounds that can be found all over the Irish landscape.

In modern mythology the sídhe were thought to be the descendants of the Túatha Dé Danann and are what we call the fairy folk of Ireland. They are often thought to be tall, beautiful and regal in bearing.

In addition to the archaeological, historical and mythological references to passage tombs, the founders of the Grove think that the Bauhaus song, Hollow Hills, is haunting and has special meaning.

Ancient Earth work fort and barrow
Discreetly hide their secret abodes
The most fearful hide deep inside
And venture not there upon Yuletide
For invasion of their hollow hills
That music hold and Oberon fill
Is surely recommended not
For fear of death, in fear of rot
Hollow hills

As you can see, the name Hollow Hills can have different meanings for different people, but we all can come to the same conclusion: they are special and magical places.