What is a Birth Tree?
Trees are special and provide a plethora of benefits both environmentally and economically. But did you also know that your birth tree can determine your personality? According to some, especially the Celtic druids, the date of your birth is tied to the lunar calendar and is related to the formation of one’s personality and behavior.
Before we delve into the meaning of each tree, first a little history. Trees have always had a special place in Celtic history. Living trees have played a central role in the practical daily and spiritual lives of the Irish people for centuries. Irish myth, story and music abound with references to trees and their being the home of fairies and spirits. Traveling the Irish countryside, as I have done many times, one is sure to find hand-crafted fairy homes scattered about the forest, always bringing a huge smile to my eyes.
Trees served as landmarks and icons of family and clan identity, and their importance can be measured by the great number of tree-based places named in Ireland – of the 16,000 towns in Ireland, 13,000 are named after trees! All this demonstrates the degree to which trees were understood and valued by the culture.
Celtic Birth Trees
The Celtic druids had a profound connection with trees and believed they were vessels of infinite wisdom. They felt the entire universe existed in the form of a tree. The roots grew deep below, representing the past. The trunk sat in everyday life, representing the present. The branches reached up high into the heavens, representing the future and afterlife. They developed Celtic tree astrology based on the lunar calendar, so it has thirteen astrological signs rather than twelve. Accordingly, the Druids designated a tree to each of the thirteen moon phases in their calendar and associated each tree with a type of personality. They even determined which signs were most compatible with.
Birth Trees by Month
Take a little time and discover more about your birth tree and the personality traits associated with it and with what other birth trees you are most compatible.
Send a Birth Tree by Month gift card package. Includes seeds of the birth tree so the recipient can grow their own. Learn more about the birth tree gift card package.
January Birth Tree
The Rowan Tree: January 22 – February 18
Rowans are the philosophical minds in tree astrology. Rowans can be planted near doors and ward off evil and were thought to guard the gateway to the spirit world. Rowans are keen visionaries with high ideals. You are highly influential in a quiet way and others look to you for your unique perspectives. Their inner passion and burning creativity will get them noticed if they are patient in expressing what is inside them. Others will be impressed by their unique perspective and Rowans are highly influential.
Best match: Rowans pair well with Ivy and Hawthorne signs.
February Birth Tree
The Ash Tree: February 18 – March 17
Ash are free thinkers. Imaginative, intuitive, and naturally artistic, they see the world in water-color purity. Ash tend to be moody and withdrawn at times, but that’s only because their inner landscape is in constant motion. They are in touch with their muse, and are easily inspired by nature. Likewise, Ash inspire all that they associate with and people seek them out for their enchanting personality. Art, writing (especially poetry), science, and theology (spiritual matters) are areas that strongly interest Ash. Others may think they are reclusive, but in all honesty, they are simply immersed in their own world of fantastic vision and design. Ash are in a constant state of self-renewal and rarely place a value on what others think about them.
Best match: Ash pair well with Willow and Reed signs.
March Birth Tree
The Alder Tree: March 18 – April 14
Alders are pathfinders. They will blaze a path before anyone else with a burning passion. Alders are outgoing, have buckets of charm and mix well with different types of people. Not only do they get along well with everybody, others are attracted to them. Alders have faith in themselves and this makes them an attractive person to be around. Alders really hate waste and are uncomfortable with superficial people who aren’t the real deal.
Best match: Alders pair well with Hawthorns, Oaks and Birch
April Birth Tree
The Willow Tree: April 15 – May 12
Willows are highly creative, intuitive and intelligent. They have a keen understanding of cycles, and inherently know that every situation has a season. This gives them a realistic perspective of things, and also causes them to be more patient than most tree signs. With their intelligence comes a natural ability to retain knowledge and impress their company with the ability to expound on subjects from memory. It is Willow’s powers of perception that ultimately allow their true nature to shine, and what leads them to success in life.
Best match: Willow pair well with the Birch and the Ivy.
May Birth Tree
The Hawthorn Tree: May 13 – June 9
Hawthorns have a split personality. On the outside, they present themselves as a normal neighbor, but on the inside, they are wildly creative and passionate. They are good at adapting to changing life situations. They are good at making themselves content and making others content as well. Hawthorns are naturally curious, great listeners, funny, and have a good sense of both irony and silliness.
Best match: Hawthorns pair well with Ash and Rowans.
June Birth Tree
The Oak Tree: June 10 – July 7
Oaks have a special gift of strength. They are protective people and often become a champion for those who do not have a voice. In other words, the Oak is the crusader and the spokesperson for the underdog. Nurturing, generous and helpful, they exude an easy confidence and naturally assume everything will work out to a positive outcome. They have a deep respect for history and ancestry, and a love to impart their knowledge of the past to others, and thus, many Oaks become teachers. Oaks live long, full, happy lives and enjoy large family settings and are likely to be involved with large social/community networks.
Best match: Oaks pair well with the Ash and Reed, and are known to harmoniously join with Ivy too.
NEW! Send a Birth Tree by Month gift card package. Includes seeds of the birth tree so the recipient can grow their own. Learn more about the birth tree gift card package.
July Birth Tree
The Holly Tree: July 8 – August 4
Hollys are regal, noble and often take on positions of high status and leadership. Hollys have perseverance and never shy away from a challenge. They are hardly ever defeated simply because they keep trying until they get what they want as well as being competitive and ambitious even in the most casual settings. They are very intelligent and breeze through intellectual challenges. Hollys are very kind and generous to a fault.
Best match: Hollys pair well with Ash and Elder for balance and partnership.
August Birth Tree
The Hazel Tree: August 5 – September 1
Hazels are highly intelligent, organized and efficient. Like the Holly, they are naturally gifted in academia, and excel in the classroom. They have the ability to retain information and can recall, recite and expound on subjects they have memorized with amazing accuracy. Sometimes they appear as a know-it-all to others, but they can’t help that; they are genuinely smart and usually know the right course of action because of an impressive knowledge base. Hollys have a gift for numbers, science and subjects that call for analytical skills. Although they like rules, they are typically making them rather than playing by them.
Best match: Hazel pair harmoniously with Hawthorns and Rowans.
September Birth Tree
The Vine: September 2 – September 29
Vines are born within the autumnal equinox, making their personality unpredictable, full of contradictions and often indecisive. This is due to their ability to see both sides of the story and empathize with each side equally. It is hard to pick sides because they can see the good points on each end. That being said, Vines are certain about enjoying the finer things in life such as food, wine, music, and art. Vines, while seemingly aloof and detached, are very romantic inside.
Best match: Vines pair well with Willow and Hazel.
October Birth Tree
The Ivy: September 30 – October 27
The Ivy’s most cherished quality is the ability to overcome all odds. They have a sharp intellect, but more obvious is their compassion and loyalty to others. They have a giving nature and are always there to lend a helping hand. Ivys endure troubling times with silent perseverance and soulful grace. Indeed, Ivys have a tendency to be deeply spiritual and cling to a deep-rooted faith that typically sees them through adversity. They are soft spoken, but have a keen wit, are charming and charismatic
Best match: Ivys pair well with Oak and Ash.
November Birth Tree
The Reed: October 28 – November 24
Reeds are great at keeping secrets. They can dig deep to find the real meaning of things and discover the truth. People born under this Celtic tree sign love a good story, gossip and scandals. This makes them perfect historians, journalists, detectives, and archaeologists. They have the ability to find the core of things and strip every layer of the story. However, they tend to be a bit manipulative at times, but still have a strong sense of truth and honor.
Best match: Reeds pair well with other Reeds, Ash or Oak.
December Birth Tree
The Elder Tree: November 25 – December 23
The Elder is a wild child, loving freedom. Elders are thrill seekers for the majority of their lives. They are also outspoken and refuse to be pressured by others into anything. They need constant mental and physical challenges. Furthermore, Elders are very thoughtful and considerate of others and genuinely strive to be helpful.
Best fit: Elders pair well with Alder and Holly.
New Year Holiday Birth Tree
The Birch Tree: December 24 – January 21
Birch are high energy, highly driven, and often motivate others. They become easily caught in their zeal, drive and ambition. They are always reaching for more, seeking better horizons and obtaining higher aspirations. Birch (just like the tree) are tolerant, tough, and resilient. They are cool-headed and are natural-born leaders, often taking command when a situation calls for leadership. They also bring beauty in otherwise barren spaces, brightening up a room with their guile, and charming crowds with a quick wit.
Best fit: Birch pair well with Vine and Willow.
Now that you know about your Birth Tree and their associated personality traits (with help from What’s Your Sign), what better way to celebrate someone’s birthday or the birth of a new born than by planting a celebration tree as a birthday present. Not only does The Gifted Tree make it easy, but our unique tributes announce the planting to the honoree in a way fit for a regal celebration and worthy of a majestic birth tree. Or check out our new birth tree by month gift card package (includes the seeds of the birth tree).
