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Tree
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Month
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Deities
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Symbol
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Meaning
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BIRCH
(Beth)
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Dec 24th - Jan 20th
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Arthur, Taliesin, the sun god Hu, the invisible creator Celi
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White Stag
the Sun
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Known as Lady of the Woods. the Birch Tree represents inception. The rebirth of the Sun from winter's solstice. The first tree that takes away the decay of the mysterious elder. Both the Birch and the Elder stand on either sides of the one Nameless day. They represent a link between life and death, with the Birch being the beginning of all things. The Birch associated with the training of Druids and the birth of new life. Energetic and spontaneous. Wine fermented from birch sap was credited with medicinal properties.
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ROWAN
(Luis)
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Jan 21st - Feb 17th
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Brigid and Brigantia
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The Green Dragon
Duck
Insight and Blessing
the Planet Uranus
(flame)
The Fire Festival of Brigantia
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The Rowan tree was believed to be magical tree which grew red berries that were the food of the gods. These berries were so sacred that it was believed that the Gods guarded them jealously and kept them from man. The Druids believed that the Creator, Celi who was an invisible god, manifested in nature including the restless elements such as lightning, which was also associated with Dragons. Dragons are associated with new life and thus this period of time is also associated with the coming of new life out of the dark winter.
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ASH
(Nion)
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Feb 18th - Mar 17th
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Lir and Manannan
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The Trident or Sea Horse
Snake
Connections
the Planet Neptune (Lir)
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Related to their Irish Gaelic word for Heaven, Nionon, the Ash has special sacred meaning. Three of the five trees planted to establish the five provinces we Ash trees. In Celtic mythology the ash is known as the tree of enchantment and it is said the Welsh magician Gwydion fashioned his wands from ash wood. The Celts believed that they came from the Great Deep or the Undersea land of Tethys. It is this reason that the Ash is associated with the sea. Wands are often made of ash because of its straight grain. Ash wands are good for healing, general and solar magic
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ALDER
(Fearn)
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Mar 18th -
April 14th
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The Pentacle or
The Hawk
Red Fox, Ram, Stallion
A strong foundation
the Planet Mars (Maurth)
The Vernal Equinox
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Bran, Arthur, Airem, Teutates anY Dynion Mwynd
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The Alder is associated with courage and it represents the evolving spirit. Bran was a mighty warrior of ancient Britain. Not always the victor, but never defeated. In one battle Bran fights the Ash King on behalf of the Alder King. Though he loses the battle, he is still recognized as a great warrior. The period of the Vernal Equinox is an extremely important period in the Celtic year. as it represents free will and liberty in a moral context. It is still considered a crime to cut down a sacred Alder tree and he who does is considered the cause of any trouble in the village.
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WILLOW
(Saille)
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April 15th -
May 12th
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Ceridwen, Morrigan, Morgan le Fay, and
Dana
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The Sea Serpent
Cat or Hare
Intuition
The Moon
(Llun)
The Fire Festival of Beltane
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The Willow tree since ancient times has always been associated with death. In Northern Europe, the word witch and wicked is derived from the name of the Willow. It is considered to be a tree of enchantment. In Celtic mythology it is associated with the creation myth of two scarlet sea serpent eggs which contained the Sun and the Earth. These eggs were hidden in the boughs of the Willow tree until they hatched, thus bringing forth earthly life. The Willow is also associated with death as it is the obvious conclusion to birth and life.
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HAWTHORN
(Uath)
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May 13th -
June 9th
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Govannan or Goibniu)
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The Chalice
Vulcan
(Govanna)
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he Hawthorn tree associated with the sacred and the unlucky. To destroy a Hawthorn was to incur great peril to the person responsible. The Hawthorn tree is embodied in the character of the chief giant Yspaddaden in a Welsh romance of Kulhwch and Olwen. A guardian figure who tries to protect the virginity of Olwen. He is felled and the blooms of summer soon open, thus symbolizing the advance of summer defeating winter at last. It is associated with Govanna (Vulcan) a smith god that is the custodian of the celestial fire and higher powers of the mind. Thus it is symbolize as the Chalice as it too represents divine secrets and everlasting life.
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OAK
(Duir)
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June 10th -
July 7th
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Dagda
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The White Horse
The Golden Wheel
the Planet Jupiter
(Jovyn)
Summer Solstice
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The principal sacred tree of the Druids, the Oak Trees symbolized the turning of the year. During this time of year the Druids would carve a circle in to the tree for protection against lightning. The Oak represents the trial we all go through in life while changing and becoming that whom we are meant to be we must also consider the greater good and moral responsibilities. It represents the soul, which in Celtic terms is the "eye of god." Change, sacrifice, and understanding. It is a time when the sun starts his movement into darkness and is sacrificed to darkness as the earth begins to move back into winter.
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HOLLY
(Tinne)
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July 8th -
August 4th
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Danu
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The Unicorn
War Horse
The Flaming Spear
Balance
Earth (Abred)
The Fire Festival of
Lammas
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A symbol of luck and good fortune. In Celtic mythology the Holly is the evergreen twin of the Oak. It is called a kerm-oak. The Oak rules the light part of the year while the Holly rules the dark part. The Unicorn represents a horse with a horn that resembles the flaming spear. The Celtic symbol of the Flaming Spear is associated with the Celtic month of Tanist because the Celtic T is shaped like a barbed spear. Both the Oak and Holly are symbolized with the Summer Solstice and the White Horse of the Oak becomes the The Unicorn of the Holly in transformation. The Fire Festivals that took place during this time were usually in honor of the Earth. Therefore, the Holly also represents those eternal, ever-green aspects of mother earth.
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HAZEL
(Coll)
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Aug 5th -
Sept 1st
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Ogma and Manannan
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The Rainbow Salmon
the planet Mercury
(Mugher)
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The Hazel nut is the emblem of concentrated wisdom. One could gain knowledge simply eating nuts. In this aspect it is associated with the Salmon, a sacred symbol of wisdom. In Irish Lore it is the Hazel was the Bile Ratha where in which the poetic Fairy lives. It was a capital crime to felling a Hazel tree. Ogma, who is credited with creating writing, is associated with great "knowing." It is he who is credited with mandating that the Oral tradition of the Celts be closely guarded and preserved, yet through his creativity he created the alphabet based on tones and sounds.
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VINE
(Muin)
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Sept 2nd -
Sep 29th
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Branwen, Guinevere,
Etain
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The White Swan
Lizard
Unlocking
the Planet Venus
(Gwena)
The Autumn Equinox
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The Vine is the symbol of sensuality and emotions. A hardy, long lived plant. It's symbol, the White Swan represents the radiant divinity of the Gods who are said to go to their underground forts during the Autumn Equinox. The White Swan is also associated with the White Ghost or the White Phantom - Gwenhwyvar. To the Celts, the Autumn Equinox is a time when the light will eventually give up its hold to the darkness, but for a brief moment all is in balance. The light and the dark hold equal positions. To the Celtic mind it represents the balance of the mundane and the supernatural; the mortal and the immortal.
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IVY
(Gort)
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Sept 30th -
Oct 27th
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Rhiannon and
Arianrhod
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The Butterfly
The Mute Swan
The Boar
Progress and tenacity
the Veiled Moon
the Planet Persephone which is said to exist just beyond Pluto
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In contrast to the the Vine, Ivy is evergreen, and it represents the perennial aspects of the human psyche. The Celts associate Ivy with their lunar goddess Arianrhod and their ritual to her marked the opening of the portal to the Otherworld. Thus the dark side of the moon. This door symbolizes an entrance to the world of the Faery People. The Butterfly is the the symbol of the Faery Faith. Thus Ivy represents mysterious and the mystical.
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REED
(Ngetal)
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Oct 28th -
Nov 24th
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Dis, Pwyll, Arawn
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The White Hound
The Stone
the Planet Pluto
(Pwyll)
The Fire Feast of Samhain
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Identified with the submerged or hidden dryad, The Reed represents the mysteries of death. In fact the Fire Feast of Samhain celebrates the dead and on Samhain, the boundary between the Otherworld and this world dissolve. It is a night of great divination. Or in another fashion, it represents the hidden roots to all life. The Reed is associated with with being both a savior and custodian. Pwyll, the Celtic ruler of the Otherworld was given "The Stone" , one of four treasures given to him for safekeeping. The Stone represents the right of the kings and queen to have divine power. Thus the Reed is also the symbol of Royalty. The White Hounds represent the dogs that guard the lunar mysteries.
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ELDER
(Ruis)
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Nov 25th -
Dec 22nd
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Pryderi, Bran
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The Black Horse
The Raven
Badger
Healing
the Planet Saturn
The Winter Solstice (Alban Arthuan)
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The Symbol of both death and rebirth. Like the Winter Solstice, it highlights a time of evolution. The Celts believed that it was during this time that their sun or solar spirit was held prisoner. Just as Pryderi was forced into exile. It is also a time of trouble and struggle for supremacy. In deed what is now will one day be no more, and that which is to come, will also, one day be no more.
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