Celtic Tree Calendar

The Celtic tree calendar is a traditional representation of the changing year delineated by trees rather than months.  The changing of the trees is linked to the 28-day lunar cycle which means there are 13 trees in the year rather than 12.  As a result, the tree months don’t tie up exactly with the calendar month and most months are represented by 2 trees.

The 13 trees are all native to the UK and steeped in myth, folklore and legend that has been handed down by word of mouth from the distant past and a time when trees were central to everyday lives.  During these times the UK was largely forested and the well-being of people depended on the well-being of nature.  The ancient peoples lived in harmony with nature and believed that spirit, or life force, was present in all things.  Trees were held in high esteem as they had much to offer in terms of shelter, food, medicine, wisdom and spiritual support.  The 13 trees form part of the Celtic Tree Ogham.  This is an ancient Celtic/Druid system for storing knowledge.  Each tree has its own symbol and Irish name representing the qualities of the tree.

These candles make ideal birthday presents enabling the participant to connect with the tree that represents the time of their birth and which forms an intrinsic part of our landscape.