Tree Months - The Celtic Tree Calendar
The Celts worked and lived with nature and trees did hold magical properties for them. Although this a great tool for helping you get to know the energies of the trees, there are varying opinion and problems connected to the Celtic tree calendar. The most popular reference that we have been able to source abut the tree calendar is from Robert Graves and his book “The White Goddess” where a tree calendar was decoded from poetry. This is where the first point of argument starts historians quote the Coligny Calendar found in France in 1897., where there is no refernece to trees. It is said to be Celtic and date from the first century , but again origins are still unclear. The calendar is said to be solar/lunar and from what we have seen it seems quite complicated to get our heads round.
| Month |
Period |
Meaning |
| Samonios |
October/November |
Seed-fall |
| Dumannios |
November/December |
The Darkest Depths |
| Riuros |
December/January |
Cold-time |
| Anagantios |
January/February |
Stay-home time |
| Ogronios |
February/March |
Time of ice |
| Cutios |
March/April |
Time of winds |
| Giamonios |
April/May |
Shoots-show |
| Simivisonios |
May/June |
Time of Brightness |
| Equos |
June/July |
Horse-time |
| Elembiuos |
July/August |
Claim-time |
| Edrinios |
August/September |
Arbitration |
| Cantlos |
September/October |
Song-time |
Some years had 12 months and other 13 months and the length of the month was changeable. Even if the tree calendar did exist we still have another problem , we are basing the tree calendar on our modern system of dates. In 1752 Britain decided to adopt the Gregorian Calendar , like its predecessor the Julian Calendar this was solar based . This new calendar gives us an approximate 13 day difference , this year for example the 14th May in Gregorian Calendar is actually 1st May in the Julian colander. So we can see from this that dates do not correspond. Also the Celtic year starts in Samhain not December , so you can see where we could have a problem with
credibility We would be pleased for any feed back that you may have on this and anyone who can explain how the Coligny calendar works in a simple way for simple people like us please let us know. In the meantime please feel free to look at the different months and the tree that are now connected with them.
The Ogham is approx. 1500 years old , as well being used as a divination tool, it is also a twenty six letter alphabet based on trees , they also correspond to Celtic Mythology and Astrology. The letters were traditionally carved on Yew wood. According to Irish legend the Ogham was given to us by Ogma the Sun face the God of wisdom. He is a God of lightTo find your tree month click on the date
Happy reading
