Every year Hungarians mark St Stephen’s Day on 20 August. It is the celebration of the custom of welcoming the new bread and in honour of the king who ruled Hungary from 1000 to 1038. King Steven is credited with having brought Christianity to the country’s nomadic tribes. If you are in Budapest on […]

The Alder is the birthday tree from 19th March to 14th April. Alder resist rot in water and was used to make bridges, boats, clogs and milk jugs. It was a crime to fell an alder, as the angry tree spirit would burn down houses. Alder people are courageous, energetic, impetuous and determinded to make […]

The Ash is the birthday tree from 17th February to 18th March. The Ash was a sacred chieftain tree, said to “court the flash” as it was prone to lightning strike. Its wood was thought to be enchanted and was used for Druidic wands and spears. Ash people are quick witted, spontaneous and gregarious. They […]

The Rowan is the birthday tree from 21st January to 17th February. Rowans were planted near doors and gates to ward off evil and were thought to guard the gateway to the spirit world. Rowan people are idealistic, progressive thinkers with strong humanitarian and spiritual principles. They thrive on change, becoming impatient with convention or […]

The Birch is the birthday tree from 24th December to 20th Janauary. The Birch represented renewel and rebirth as it was the first tree in leaf after winter. Birch people are determined, resilient and ambitious. Good organisers, leaders and strategists, they are not deterred by setbacks, believing hard work, patience and persistance will triumph. They […]

The Elder is the birthday tree from 25th November to 22nd December. The Elder tree was sacred to the faeries and branches were hung above stables to protect horses from evil spirits. It was unlucky to burn Elder and an omen of death to bring it indoors. Elder people are self sufficient, lively, impetuous and […]

The Reed is the birthday tree from 28th October to 24th November. The Druids believed the Reed was a tree because of its dense root system. Cut Reeds were used as pens and symbolised wisdom and scholarship. Reed people are complex, tenacious and fearless. Proud and independent, they have great strength of character and rarely […]

The Ivy is the birthday tree from 30th September to 27th October. The power of the Ivy to cling and bind made it a potent symbol of determination and strength. It can strangle trees and was a portent of death and spiritual growth. Ivy people are restless, sociable and good natured. Cheerful, expansive and magnetic, […]

The Vine is the birthday tree from 2nd September to 29th September. The Grapevine is a symbol of sacred knowledge and spiritual initiation. Vine people are discriminating, authoritative and set high personal standards. They appear cool and detached but are secret romantics and can be sensitive, vulnerable and self critical. Keenly perceptive, they have […]

The Hazel is the birthday tree from 5th August to 1st September. The Celts equated hazelnuts with concentrated wisdom and poetic inspiration. There are several variations on an ancient tale that nine hazel trees grew around a sacred pool, dropping nuts into the water to be eaten by some salmon (a fish revered by […]