Nails were hammered into the tree for various reasons that reflect Austria's customary traditions of 18th century blacksmiths upon leaving the city. Prior to that, mystical beliefs which were rather common throughout South Eastern Europe and the Middle East, implied a wound would be healed through the transference of energy metaphysically, via the nail. In any case, the nail-tree talisman serves as a symbol for the City's Mythical Center as suggested by the Austrian Folklorist, Leopold Schmidt.