The tree with the tokens hanging
Tell me about this? It seemed a magic moment, but the meaning escapes me. Was the fact bad news followed significant?
shareIt was a tree shrine.
I only am aware of this in Ireland and its called a Fairy Tree/Wishing tree.
They are usually hawthorn trees where people tie ribbons to ask blessings from the local saints/deities/wee folk. The hawthorn flowers in May, time of the Bealtaine festival of rebirth (now generally known as May Day). Local people still tie ribbons or strips of colorful cloth to the wishing tree as a symbol of their prayers or wishes.
There is a beautiful tree adorned with rosaries in Argentina.
http://www.oddee.com/item_98120.aspx
This movie takes place in France so what I posted may not be what you are asking for.
As a renaissance chick, I paint, write, and sing loudly off-key.
There are a lot of Celt descendants in France. Mostly in Brittany and there has been an upsurge in interest in Celtic traditions in the area.
However Brittany is nowhere near Versailles so the tree scene was more than likely artistic license.