The Yew

-Botanical

Latin name: Taxus Baccata
This tree comes from Europe, Asia and North America. Botanists think that it appeared 120 millions of years ago. Its habitat is most of time humid areas, like forests.
The oldest Yew lived until 1500 years old. The Yew has this capacity for great age from its particular growth of sooths and branches, which root into the ground and grow to form new trunks, which join the main trunk and become part of it. In old age it continues to grow, and that explains the fact that this tree is link with the concept of immortality.
It can grow until 15 meters high. He leaves are needles, which don't fall in winter.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Ioho
Color: Dark Green
Letter in the Ogham: I, J, Y
Meaning: Complete change in life direction or attitude

For the Celts, the Yew was one of the Druid's sacred trees.
The famous love story between Tristan and Iseult said that both Yews grew on the place of their graves, as a symbol of eternity. According to the ancient Irish mythology, the last great warrior queen was Banbha. She was slain and later became semi deified as the death aspect of the triple goddess of Ireland. The Yew was sacred to her and became known as "the renown of Banbha".
In Greek and Roman mythology, this tree is dedicated to Hecate, Goddess guardian of the Hells.

-Healing

The sap is toxic, and it's very important to be careful, and to not take this product by your own. But this sap can be efficient as a medication, if it's good used. It is used in the composition to medications against cancers, because the toxin slows down the development of cancerous cells.

-Physical uses

This tree has this name because of the Celt word « ivin », which mean tissue; indeed, woodfibres of the Yew were used to create clothes.
Its strong and heavy wood, but also flexible, was appreciated for the conception of arches, arrows and lances, which were previously coated on toxic Yew's sap.
This wood was also used for furniture and paneling, as well for fencepost, ship-masts and wine barrels.

The Poplar

-Botanical

Latin name: Populus
Poplar is a common tree in Europe. They are 35 different kinds of Poplars, coming from the North Hemisphere.
This tree can grow until 30 or 40 meters high, and some of them can live until 400 years old.
These trees appreciate humid grounds. We can easily recognize it in autumn, thanks to the beautiful shimmering color of its leaves.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Eadha

Color: Silver white

Letter in the Ogham: E

Meaning: Problems, doubts, fears

All the poplars have 3 attributes: the ability to shield and resist, an association with language, and an affinity with the wind. There most powerful time is autumn, because of the color of their leaves.
In Celtic Astrology, Poplar was a tree representing uncertainty.
And in Greek Mythology, the nymph Leuké, Ocean's daughter, was coveted by Hades. To escape to him, she transformed her into a Poplar. Since this time, Poplar was considered as a resurrection tree. When this nymph died, Hades planted Poplar in his kingdom.
This connection with death and resurrection is still alive today, because it's always a tradition to plant Poplars in cemeteries.

-Healing

With the young Poplars, bark contains a substance efficient against fever. Buds are diuretic, used to cure rheumatism and arthritis.
As an antiseptic, it can calm the cough, and smooth bronchial tubes.

-Physical uses

Poplars can grow very fast, that's why it's a tree used for industrial exploitation. Its wood is clear, light, fibrous and not durable, so it's used for the conception of matchsticks and crates.
It's also used to make bedding and light roof structures.
In the past, Amerindians used to eat the bark in spring and summer, because of its sweet taste. Dry, this bark was added to the bread.

Heather

-Botanical

Latin name: Calluna, Erica
The heather is a little bush, always green, because it doesn't lost its leaves in winter. These leaves are very small, and look like pine needles. We can currently distinguish more than 800 different species of heather. It's flowers are most of time pink, or white.
It's a kind of plant which, with Gorse, Fern and Broom, likes to live in moors.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Ur
Month: None
Color: Purple
Letter in the Ogham: U
Meaning: Healing and development on the spiritual level

The symbolism around Heather is very poor. In Roman mythology, it was probably linked with the Goddess Erycine, who controlled loving passions. In Phoenicia and Egypt, this plant was associated with Isis and Osiris, the 2 most important Gods in Egyptian mythology. Osiris was the guardian of Underworld.

-Healing

As a medication, only the flowers can be used.
Heather's most important properties are antiseptic and diuretic. More of that, it can also be used as a sedative, and as an hypnotic (it helps sleeping well). It's indicated to cure urinary troubles and kidney stones.
And in some regions, old people will tell you that Heather is an efficient medication against rheumatism.

-Physical uses

Heather's wood is a very fine one, and that's why it's used to create little items, like pipes. Poor countries knew how to use this plant to make roofs, brooms or cob walls. Heather burns easily, and for that it was appreciated by bakers.
The cattle like to eat this plant, but only the young one. Because of this, numerous shepherds burned the field, to encourage new heather to grow. But this technique was dangerous for the territory, because it could make it barren.
Heather's flowers are also very appreciated by bees, which produce a delicious honey with it.

The Gorse

-Botanical

Latin name: Ulex
It does exist 20 different species of gorses, living in Europe and North Africa. 7 of these species live especially in Europe, and are assembled until the common name of European Gorse (Ulex Europaeus). This kind of gorse comes from Western Europe, Scotland and Portugal.
The Gorse is a bushing shrub, which can grow most of time between 1 and 2 meters high. Its branches are covered by thorns, which create a very dense plant. Its little leaves are prickly too.
Flowers are yellow, and smell coconut when they are exposed to the sun. They appear in May, or later in summer.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Ohn
Letter in the Ogham: O

The Gaul Goddess On-Niona, whose the cult was celebrated in Ash tree groves, had her name created with Onn (Gorse) and Nion (Ash).
Some believes about the Gorse was born because of its place of living, most of time in moors, a worrying place next to the sky.

-Healing

We have no information about the properties of this plant, but its seeds are poisonous.

-Physical uses

Thanks to its strong thorns, the Gorse is very efficient to create barriers, and to surround the fields where cattle are.
In the past, it was used by poor peasants to be burn in the fireplace, when it was dry. In Brittany, people used also the Gorse as feed for the cattle, after crushing it.

Scots Pine

-Botanical

Latin name: Pinus sylvestris

The pine is a tree bringing together most of 111 different species. This is a conifer tree. Depending of the specie, this tree can have different sizes. These needles don't fall in winter, they are persistent.
Pines are anyway trees which like the light, and they can stand easily dryness and poor grounds.
The Scots pine is one specie native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Ireland, Great-Britain and Portugal in the west, east to eastern Siberia. This pine can grow until 25 meters high, and 1 meter trunk diameter when it's mature.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Ailim
Seasons: Winter and Spring
Letter in the Ogham: A
Meaning: Purification, births, incense.

Scots pine has a long and rich history in mythology. Scots pine groves or "Shaman forest" scattered over the dry grasslands of Eastern Siberia were considered sacred by a Mongolian people living around the lake Baikal.
In Celtic culture, druids used to light a big bonfire of Scots pine during the winter solstice, to celebrate the new season and to draw back the sun. Glades of Scots pine were also decorated with lights: the tree began the representation of the Divine Light. Maybe the origin of our Christmas tree?

-Healing

Pine's buds, very resinous, are used as a diuretic medication. They are most of time changed in syrup or pastilles. From pine's wood we can extract by distillation the "Norways' tar", for its antiseptic properties.

-Physical uses

Scots pine is an important tree in forestry. Its wood is used for pulp, and sawn timber products.
In the pre-industrial age, Scots pine was used to make tar.
The wood is pale brown to red brown, and used very often for constructions works.
And of course, today, this tree is best known as the perfect Christmas tree, that's why it's cultivated all year long.

The Elder

-Botanical

Latin name: Sambucus
The Elder is a little tree, whose branches contain a white marrow, previously used like our actual rubber cement. It has little black fruits, which can be eaten, but cooked. Birds are also very fond of these fresh fruits.
It can grow, rarely, until 10 meters high. Its presence on a place indicates that the ground is rich in nitrogen. Most of time, it likes to grow wild; it's find in abundance on waste-lands, woods or gardens.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Ruis

Month: makeup days of the thirteenth Moon
Color: red
Letter in the Ogham: R
Meaning: end of a cycle of problems

Symbolism around Elder is linked with ambiguity. It's the tree representing the number 13 (and so the character of Judas).
On one way, this tree is sees like a lucky charm tree, because it gave food. But in another way, it could be considered like a tree carrying evil spells, because of its unpleasant smell.
In Sicilia, people think that Elder protects against snakes, but in England, burn Elder wood in houses attracts Devil in. In Denmark, it's the protector of houses, and in Russia it can banish evil spells.

-Healing

Elder was used in ancient time as a medical tree by Britons, Celts and Romans people.
This medicinal tree has numerous properties. The bark is diuretic and sedative. The leaves, when they are dry, are soothing, and are used against sore throats.
Elder is also useful to encourage urinary elimination, and making digestion easier. According to recent scientist studies, it could also reduce flu effects.
Eat the fresh fruits of Elder is advise against, because they are a little toxic, and can cause vomiting.

-Physical uses

The wood is very homogeneous, pretty heavy, with a beautiful clear yellow color. That's why it's appreciated by artisans.
Leaves and flowers can be changing in Elder wine, a famous traditional drink in Nordic countries, but also in syrup or in lemonade.
With the fruits we can produce ink, with colors changing between blue and violet.

The Blackthorn

-Botanical

Latin name: Prunus Spinosa

The Blackthorn is a little prickly tree. It's very useful to make defensive hedges. Furthermore, cattle don't like its fruits, and are frightened about these thorns, which is a security for the owner.
Birds like its fruits, and disperse its seeds everywhere. This specie of little tree is very invasive, and like to grow in waste lands.
It has white flowers in March/May. Its little fruits are purple. The Blackthorn can grow until 6 meters high.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology


Gaelic name: Straif
Month: None
Color: Purple
Letter in the Ogham: SS, Z, ST
Meaning: Resentment, confusion, refusing to see the truth

The Blackthorn tree is esoterically known as both the Mother of the Woods and the Dark Crone of the Woods. The English word "strife » come from the Celtic name of this tree « Straif ».
This tree has the most sinister reputation in the Celtic tree calendar. In the Christian folklore, Blackthorn is associated to Witches. That's why in the Middle Age, Witches and heretic people were burned in Blackthorn stakes.
This tree is also associated with warfare, wounding and death, linked with the Irish Morrigan.

-Healing

Blackthorn fruits are astringents and tonic, because they contain tannin and vitamins. In decoction, the Blackthorn is a laxative, and these fruits were used against diarrheas.

-Physical uses

Blackthorn's fruits, the sloe berry, can be eaten, fresh or cooked in marmalades. They can also produce a famous liquor, and eau-de-vie.
This little fruit is eaten since a very long time, because they were found in archaeological site from the Mesolithic and Iron Age period.
This tree can grow very quickly, that's why it's appreciated to consolidate sloping fields.
Its wood is very strong, and used to create sticks, and in construction works.

The Reed

-Botanical

Latin name: Arundo
The reed is an aquatic plant, living in humid areas. The giant reed, which come from Mediterranean area, is today cultivated all around the world. It can grow until 5 meters high in dense tufts. Its stems are hollow.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Ngetal
Month: October
Color: Grass green
Letter in the Ogham: NG
Meaning: Upset or surprises

-Healing

Dry roots are available in most of pharmacies. It's used for its toning properties in all the digestive system.

-Physical uses

Reed is use to elaborate the reeds for musical instruments. It's also useful to weave basket making, or to make brooms.
In the past, people weaved it and putted in the ground when it was too much muddy.
In Peru, on Titicaca like, people use reeds to make boats, houses, and a lot of everyday items.
Thanks to its hollow stems, reed was use very often to create musical instruments.

Ivy

-Botanical

Latin name: Hedera
Ivy is a plant which has along its branches numerous crampons, to climb up walls. Its leaves are persistent. This specie come from Europe and Minor Asia, but today it's in all continents. It has little flowers which produce an abundant nectar, a threat for bees. Fruits are black berries, containing 3 or 5 seeds.
In the wild, this plant likes to grow in humid areas, most of time in forests, because it can climb up the trees, to find the sun. It can grow until 30 meters long and 25 meters high.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Gort
Month: September
Color: Sky blue
Letter in the Ogham: G
Meaning: Take time to soul search or you will make a wrong decision

Ivy symbolizes the persistence of the vegetation's strength, and desire.
It's very often associated with Vine. Indeed, Ivy and Vine are the two attributes to Dionysus in Greek Mythology. This God used Ivy, punishing women who didn't want to recognize his cult.
In other culture, Ivy is implicated in future's predictions.
And also in Greek culture, people used to drink their wine when some Ivy's leaves had soaked in, because they thought it was a protection against poisons.

-Healing

Ivy's fruits contain a toxic product, but they were used in the past to elaborate numerous medications.
In external use, these healing properties are admitted. It's also very efficient to cure respiratory troubles.
But this plant is not very used today, because scientist found that a repeated used can create strong skin allergies. And some of anti-cellulite preparations contain Ivy, but their efficiency is still not prove.

-Physical uses

The wood of this plant is not strong, and can't be kept during a long time, so it's not used at all. We can find it in gardens, and it's its most interest: decorating. If you have time, you can also try to create your own dish washing liquid, making boiling 100 grams of Ivy with water. The juice obtaining after squeezing can be used.

The Vine

-Botanical

Latin name: Vitis

The vine is a bush, growing on a vertical support, a spiral. It is native from Minor Asia, and cultivated since Antiquity for its fruits and for the wine. These fruits can have different colors, depending of the specie. They grow in bunches.
One specie is cultivated since ancient time in Europe, Vitis Vinifera. We can find it also in Asia, south of Africa. Most of actual grape varieties came from this specie.
Today grape varieties are introducing in all continents, and wine-growing took importance in California, South Africa and Argentina. Wine-growing take up more than 8 million hectares in the world, and produces about 300 millions hl of wine.
This economic field is also used by the tourism one, because of the development of Oenological Tourism.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Muin
Month: August
Color: Variegated
Letter in the Ogham: M
Meaning: Inner development occurring, but take time for relaxation

Vine history was first established around the eastern part of Mediterranean Sea. Vine was introduced in France by Phocaea people around the 6^th century BC. Later, it will follow the progression of Roman Empire.
Vine tree is one of the mythic trees of Celtic civilization, and vine's leaves was an important motif in art during the Britannic's Iron Age.
In ancient Middle East, the wine was the God's drink. Vine was probably identified as the Paradise's Tree of Life. It symbolized Israel and its people, property of God. Later, the symbolism was applied to the Messiah, and wine began the Christ's blood.

-Healing

Leaves and sap can be use as astringent and anti-inflammatory, thanks to decoctions. When a branch is broke, people can use the secretion obtaining as a diuretic medication.
There is one special variety of red-vine which has properties containing in the red stains of its leaves. It's useful to tone up hairs and veins, and appreciate to cure menopause's symptoms.

-Physical uses

The wood of vine stock can be kept during a long time, and is used for the elaboration of some items, like sticks.
But since Antiquity, Vine is cultivated because of the wine, exported in all continents, and thanks to a big economic field were developed, even in ancient times.

The Apple Tree

-Botanical

Latin name: Malus domestica

The apple tree is a producing fruits tree, native from Minor Asia. We can distinguish the domestic apple tree, and the wild one, which is prickly. Fruits of wild apple tree are not edible.
According to Pliny, in ancient times there was 22 different variety of apple world-wide, but I was not until the 18^th century that the first hybrid apple appears in Britain, from Europe. There are now more than 2000 different species of apple world-wide.
It can grow until 10 meters high. It began to produce fruits after 10 years growing.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Quert

Month: None
Color: Green
Letter in the Ogham: Q
Meaning: A choice must be made

In the Greek mythology, apple tree was considered as a solar tree, because of the form of its fruits. It's the fruit of immortality: Hades, God of Hell, used o give one to his wife, Persephone, when she had to come back in the human world, announcing the spring. But more than that, apple was the symbol of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love and Beauty.
For the Celtic astrology, apple is the Love's fruit. In Celtic times, apples were considered as one of the food of the Gods.
But for Christian, apple is the sin's fruit, which leaded Adam and Eve to leave Eden's Garden.

-Healing

Apples are filled with strong therapeutic agents: sugar, vitamins, pectin and numerous mineral salts. It's useful to cure intestine infections, fatigue, hypertension, and excess cholesterol in the blood. It's good eating apples in the evening, because they encourage sleeping.
Apple's pulp is useful in the elaboration of ointments and salves.

-Physical uses

Apple tree is appreciated for its fruits, and it's cultivated for that. These fruits are used to elaborate cider, especially in Normandy, in France.
Apple tree's wood is easy to work for sculpture, and it's appreciated for the conception of pieces of furniture.

The Hazel

-Botanical

Latin name: Corylus avellana

The Hazel is a little tree, living in woods, hedges and gardens, and which produces a little fruit very appreciate, the hazelnut, mature in autumn. Its height can be between 2 and 4 meters. This tree is constituted with 10 or 12 little trunks, forming a tuft.
It has flowers from January to March. The hazel is a rustic tree, and can grow in any areas, it doesn't need special conditions.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Coll

Month: July

Color: Brown
Letter in the Ogham: C, K
Magical properties: Creative energies for work or projects.

In the Celtic astrology, hazel is charming and understanding. Always according to the Celtic tradition, it is the tree of knowledge, and its nuts were the receptacle of the wisdom.
In Ireland, hazel is closely link with the story of the king Mac Coll, who was called "Son of Hazel". He was one of the three earliest rulers in Ireland. The hazel tree which he took his name was associated with wisdom.
In Celtic culture, hazelnut was also respected because people considered it as the food of the Gods. And in one the most important Irish legends, hazel is closely link to the creation of the river Shannon.

-Healing

The leaves, bark and young branches contain some active principles. Fruits contain lipid and protein, and leaves contain essential oils.
These active principles can be used as nutritive, healing and slimming.
And in the 16^th century, it was said that the mixture between hazelnut's ash and bear's fat could help hairs to grow, especially for bad people!

-Physical uses

Its wood is very flexible, and is useful for dowses, to find water.
It's cultivated in all Europe for its hazelnuts, but Turkey is the first producer and exporter in the world.
There are 2 kinds of hazelnuts: the one with a red pod, used for pastry, and the one with a white seed, used for confectionery.
With its bush's silhouette, hazel can do beautiful hedges in orchards. Indeed, they have this asset to be a good protection against wind, and are the refuge of numerous little animals, which like its fruits. For the house, the hazel's oil was used for lighting.

The Holly

-Botanical

Latin name: Ilex

The holly is a little tree which likes to grow in underbrush. Most of time, it can't grow more than 5 meters high, but exceptionally it can be find holly of 10 meters high. This tree can live until 100 years old. It likes to live in humid areas.

It's easy to recognize this tree in winter, thanks to its beautiful red fruits. Unfortunately, these fruits can't be eaten. This tree doesn't lose its leaves in winter.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Tinne

Month: June

Color: Dark Grey

Letter in the Ogham: T

Magical properties: Energy and guidance for problems to come

Traditionally, holly represents the persistence of vegetal life, because of its leaves which don't fall, and of its fruits which are coming in winter.
Like most of prickly plants, it protects people against evil spells. That's why Roman people used it. For them, it was the Saturnalia tree (Saturnalia was the end of Roman year), and they use to offer a holly crown to people who will get married.
These traditions of protection were perpetuated, and in Germany, France or Switzerland it was the tradition to hang a branch of holly behind the house's door during Christmas.

-Healing

In its fruits, holly contains a toxic product, that's why it's dangerous to eat them. The consumption of these fruits can lead vomiting and digestive troubles. A high consumption can have bad neurologic effects.
However, this tree was use in the past, by external way with cataplasm, or internal way with decoctions.

-Physical uses

Its dense and homogeneous wood was particularly liked to realize items sturdy and flexible in the same time, like gears. With the holly's bark, the best glue is made.
In some regions, like in Alsace in France, we can make a white alcohol with the fruits, fermented and distilled.
But most of time, holly is used as decorating, during Christmas period.

The Oak

-Botanical

Latin name: Quercus

This Latin name come from the Celtic word "Kaerquez", which means "Nice Tree". From Western Europe to Asia the oak is considered as the most important tree. Its majestic silhouette, its longevity (it can live until 2000 years old), and its high economic value have always fascinated.
It's difficult to talk about one kind of oak, because there are about 400 different species of this tree. They can grow until 50 meters high. When it is young, its bark is clear and smooth, but when it's older, it began darker, with deep fissures. Like most of trees, it lost its leaves in winter.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Duir

Month: May

Color: Black and Dark Brown

Letter in the Ogham: D

Magical properties: Security, strength

In each civilization, the oak is a strength, majesty and wisdom symbol. In numerous ancient pantheons, it's associated to the strongest Gods: Zeus and Jupiter for Greek and Roman cultures, Dagda and Thor for Nordic civilization.
It's the main tree in the Bible: God appeared to Abraham in the Membré Oak. And in the Koran, Oak is the Allah's Tree.
Oak is the tree of the Sacred Wood. In Celtic rites, it had a main place. During a long time these sacred tree received presents, and people revered it. Some of these believe are still alive today. Druids used to dig up the mistletoe, which grew very rarely on oaks. The mistletoe passed the soul of the tree on.

-Healing

In pharmacology, the oak is a strong astringent, used very often. It's also a medication against poisons. The only part of this tree which can be use in medicine is the bark.
It's traditionally proposed to cure hemorrhages and throat infections. The bark has antioxidant properties against virus.

-Physical uses

The wood is very noble, because it's in the same time hardness, resistance and longevity. It was used in naval constructions, because it has a strong resistance to water, but also to create roof structures, pieces of furniture, barrels, and railways. In oenology, the best barrels are made with oak wood.
And in gastronomy, it's known that the best truffles like to grow next to Black Oaks.
Sculptors really appreciate the oak wood, easy to work and hardening with time.
Its bark is used to work leather, because it contains tannin.

The Hawthorn

-Botanical

Latin name: Crataegus

The hawthorn is a little thorny tree, member of the rose family, which is native from Europe. It's difficult to establish precisely how mush species exist, because this plant has the particularity to hybridize with others species very easily. Currently in Europe, this specie is in danger because of an illness called Bacterial Fire (leaves become yellow). This little tree prefers to grow next to the villages, instead of on the forest.
The hawthorn can live very old: in France, one is estimated to be 1000 years old! It can grow until 12 meters high.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Huathe

Month: April
Color: Purple
Letter in the Ogham: H
Magical properties: Being held back for a period of time

In the Antiquity, hawthorn symbolized innocence and virginal purity. In Brittany, people thought that it was linked to sorcery during the celebrations of May. May is the month where the hawthorn has its flowers. In Roman mythology, hawthorn is dedicated to Maia, Hermes' mother, who is celebrated in May. And according to pagan people, the hawthorn is a prime symbol of fertility. In France, England and Celtic countries, it is still bound up with the pagan Mayday rites, which use the blossoms of "the May" to symbolize love and betrothal.
In the Christian tradition, the Christ crown during his crucifixion was made with hawthorn.

-Healing

Hawthorn is called the Hearth Plant, because of its efficient properties against cardiac problems.
This plant has its main properties thanks to its substances, which dilates coronaries arteries, and which are anti-oxidants. It's indicated in case of palpitations, high blood pressure, nervousness and sleepy troubles.
It's also adviser against the menopause's effects. In fact, hawthorn flowers are used in the composition of more than 200 medications.

-Physical uses

German people used to eat its fruits, fresh or cooked.
Anciently, hawthorn wood was used to make handles, particularly (because the wood was considered lucky) handles of personal things necessary for protection, like knives and daggers.
Its wood, strong and red, was efficient in the realization of work tools. Hawthorn was well present in culture as an artistic theme.

The Ash Tree

-Botanical

Latin name: Fraxinus Excelsior

The Ash Tree is a very old tree, because scientists know that it does exist since the Tertiary Era. Their oldest place seems to be the North East of Canada. They have evaluated gradually during their progression to the South, and the result is that the Ash Tree is today everywhere in Europe, Western Asian and even in some regions of Africa. This tree lost its leaves very early in autumn, making appear some big black and velvety buds, characteristics of this specie. Flowers appear at the beginning of spring, before leaves. And at the end of summer, it's easy to observe the Ash tree's fruits. Because of the form of the Ash Tree flowers, scientists classified it in the same family of Olive Tree. But the Ash Tree is very higher; sometimes it can reach 40 meters high. We can count about 60 different species of Ash Tree.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Nuin

Month: March
Color: Glass Green
Letter in the Ogham: N
Magical properties: Healing, Prosperity, Protection

In Europe, magic rituals gave to the Ash Tree important healing powers, and in particular baby's umbilical hernia. The ritual said that people had to chop a young Ash Tree in two parts, and go the baby through the two parts of the tree. After that, people rounded up the two parts with a string, and the baby was supposed to get better in the same time of the young tree.
One legend said that if a snake had to choose between go through the Ash Tree's branches, or go through the fire, it preferred go to the fire. In the Scandinavian symbolic, the Ash Tree was the cosmic tree which linked the three worlds: underworld, world and sky.
According to the Greek mythology, Ash Tree was created by the blood of Ouranos, falling to the ground when Cronos cuted off his genital organs. Later, the Ash Tree was designed as one of the attributes of the ancient Greek Goddess Nemesis, Goddess of Revenge and Decency. The Ash Tree is also one of the attributes of Poseidon, God of the Sea but again of Seism.
For German and Scandinavian people, it's the founding tree, supporting the sky and taking its roots in wisdom. It's World-Tree is called Yggdrasil, the highest and the better tree. This spectacular Ash Tree was the symbol of the permanent fight between Life and Death, Write or Wrong.

-Healing

With the Lime Tree and the Birch, the Ash Tree is one of the most using trees for medicine. In the south of Morocco, it's very well use by men against high blood pressure.
The bark of young branches can be use to prepare medications against rheumatisms and diuretics.
More enigmatically, on the 16^th century people used the Ash Tree against poisons and venoms. They thought that if they had an Ash Tree's leaf with them everywhere, none reptile could attack them, or attack their cattle.
One of the Celtic traditions to cure people (and cattle) against paralysis and cramps was to bury one shrew alive in a hole, made in the trunk of the tree. After that, the tree was supposed to have a healing power, and people could have a medication thanks to its leaves and twigs.

-Physical uses

This utilization of the Ash Tree's wood is known since the Antiquity. In his "Metamorphosis", Ovid called this tree the "Javelins Tree". During the Middle-Age, Ash Trees were always planted next to the castle, to be able to build more arcs and arrows very quick.
Behind its strong grey bark, we can find a white wood, nervous and flexible, which were used during a long time in the sport equipments industry: sky poles, hockey poles, bicycle's rims.
Previously, it was used for the building of coaches or wagons, but it's not use today because of the decomposition of the wood, getting in touch with the soil.

The Willow

-Botanical

Latin name:
Latix

The willow is a kind of tree and shrub. It does exist around 350 different species, all around the world, principally in temperate and humid areas of North Hemisphere. With the birch, the willow is the first tree to colonize a waste land, most of time rivers banks. Indeed, water is essential for the good development of the willow.
Most of the willows have in autumn a kind of white wax in their trunk, which allow them to be protected against the cold during winter. This property protects the tree against dehydration during winter, and makes its breathing easier.
It can grow until 25 meters high, and live until 120 years old.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

-Gaelic name: Saille

-Month: February
-Color: Listed only as bright
-Letter in the Ogham: S
-Magical properties: Gaining balance in your life

The willow is the tree dedicated to the Woman, the Moon and the Water.
In Christian and Eastern cultures, the willow is a symbol of immortality. In Lhassa, Tibet, the main sanctuary is in the middle of a wood of willows. This tree is the Life Tree. We know that Lao Tseu used to meditate under its leaves, where he founded Taoism, on the 5^th century.
For Jewish people, the willow is the Yahweh's tree.
In Brittany, people could know in advance the date of their dead, thanks to two branches of willow, putted down on the water. If the branches floated, death was next.

-Healing

The willow is known since the Antiquity for its curative properties. Hippocrate recommended realizing a medication with the bark to cure fevers and grieves.
It's proving today that the willow has soothing properties, that's why it's very useful as a sedative medication. And the aspirin is created thanks to its active principles.
Gypsies make a bitter drink from willow bark for easing rheumatism and headaches.

-Physical uses

The wood, flexible but strong, is particularly used in the fabrication of cricket's bats.
Branches are also used for the basket-making.
Willow wood was used in the past for the construction of fast-sailing naval boats.

The Alder

-Botanical

Latin name: Aulnus

The alder is a tree which comes from the North Hemisphere. Its main characteristic is its red wood. Its trunk is a very dark grey, and bleeds when it is chopped. Very well-known in Europe, it can lives until 2000 meters in altitude. But its favorite place of living is in humid places, where they can grow until 30 meters high. It's a water-loving tree, created a good shade for plants and fish of the river.
This tree has its flowers in February, it's one of the first flowering of the year. It lost its leaves in winter, but they stay green very late in autumn.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Fearn
Month: January
Color: Crimson
Letter in the Ogham: F, V
Magical properties: Help in making choices, spiritual guidance and protection

For ancient Britain people, the alder was the tree representing their union with Gael people. It was part of the sacred Druidic wood.
For the Greek and Roman people, this tree was a symbol of life after death, associated to the Greek God Cronos.
In the Nordic mythology, it's again a fateful tree, and when people want to fell it, it cries blood tears.
Because of its place of living, most of time in the marshes, and of the blood-red color of its wood when it's chopping, this tree was associated by some people with sorceresses. But in other cultures, this tree was estimated sacred, and this blood-red color represented the generosity of the Gods, and the health of the land.
In Ireland, people used to burn the house of someone who felled a sacred Alder. The alder was dedicated to Bran, the Celt knight.

-Healing

The pollen of these flowers can be strongly allergenic for some people.
People use very often the alder bark, which is astringent as is efficient to cure sore throats. In mouth-bath, it's useful to tone up the gums.
It's well known that alder leaves attract louses and fleas, that's why they constitute an excellent trap.

-Physical uses

The noble characteristics of the Alder explained that its wood was very appreciated to realize very good guitars.
The alder tree is also used to reforest the land. Because of its strong roots, it is very efficient at the edge of the rivers, to maintain the banks. The alder wood was used to build forks, which explain also its bad reputation in the past. When this wood is on contact with water, it became extremely strong, and is rot-proof, that's why Venice, for example, is currently built on alder wood stilts. And in general, this wood is useful for the conception of ladders or toys. It's again liked by bakers, because when its wood is burning, there is a very high temperature.
From barks and branches, the ink for the conception of felt-pit is extracted.

The Rowan

-Botanical

Latin name: Sorbus Aucuparia
Rowan tree is a little tree, growing in forests and woods, most of time in altitude. Its natural living area is in Europe and in Western Asia. But we can find it also in North America. It likes temperate and humid climate. It's possible to find it as high as 700 meters of altitude, and that's explaining its name, "Lady of he Mountain".
It's a small tree, rarely higher than 15 meters. It has flowers in May and June, and fruits in summer. The particularity of this tree is that its fruits are on it during a very long time, until summer, which is a chance for the birds, which are crazy about them.
The rowan can live until 100 years. Its bark is grey and smooth, and in May its flowers are white.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Luis
Month: December
Color: Grey and Red
Letter in the Ogham: L
Magical properties: controlling your life, protection against control by others.

For Celts and Germans people, rowan tree is a sacred tree, protecting the cattle against lightning. Scottish people thought that it have the power to keep malicious spirits far from the houses. And in the countryside tradition, the rowan tree is a chance symbol for lovers.
According to a Scandinavian myth, rowan tree is the feminine equivalent of ash tree, because the first woman was born from rowan, and first men from ash.
This tree is present in numerous myths and legends in Greece, Iceland and Ireland, or else in the Christian religion, most of time because of this attractive color of its fruits.
In Ireland, the rowan is associated with a very important ancient Goddess: Brigid of Ireland. She was renowned as a poetess, and was the Muse of the poetic and divinatory atmosphere which surrounds the rowan, especially in autumn, when the birds are attracted by the fruits.

-Healing

During a long time, the rowan was used as an astringent and antibiotic. But the only parts of this tree which can be used are the fruits and the leaves. Rowan's fruits have some diuretic and laxative properties.
Rowan as also spirit properties: people used to think that to be sitting under the branches of this tree allowed to keep calm, and to evacuate stress and tensions.

-Physical uses

Fresh fruits are not good to be eaten. But they contain different sugars. One of them is used to the elaboration of a sweetener, useful for diabetic people.
The fruits can only be eaten when they are very mature, and then they need to be cooked.
Sometimes they can be used to realize marmalades, and an alcoholic drink.
Because of the interest of birds for these fruits, they were used to catch them. Rowan's wood, strong and white, was appreciated for the construction of cart's wheels and toll's handles, and it's searched by the sculptors.
Its leaves can be used to feed the cattle.

The Birch

The Birch      
Betula Alba 

Gaelic name: Beth

new beginnings, changes, purification

In Europe, birch is a familiar tree. It is growing most of time on poor grounds, until 2000 meters in altitude. They are pioneer trees, often the first ones to grow after a clearing. There are 4 different species of birch in Europe, and numerous others in North America and Asia. But its tree comes from Northern Europe.

When they live in temperate countries, birch dies after between 15 and 30 years old, but in North countries it can lives until 100 years and more.

Its main particularity is its white bark, which allows recognising it easily. Its flowers are called kittens, and they are present at the beginning of autumn.

In good conditions, birch tree can grow 24 meters tall.

Customs, Legends, and Mythology 

Legends around the birch tree are numerous. It's one of the 7 sacred trees of Druids, and even today can symbolise druidic knowledge.

Birch is the first tree in the Celtic Calendar, and symbolised wisdom. In some Slaves languages, birch is the original name of the month of March. Maybe it's because of the sap, which begins to circulate in the tree at this period.

Native American people considered it as a sacred tree, and used its wood for the conception of parchments.

And according to the Irish legend, it was under a birch shelter that Diarmid, King f All Ireland, and the Goddess Grainne made their home.

And because people thought that birch could cast off malignancy and help for a fresh new start, it was used at Samhain, the start of the Celtic Year, when purification is essential.

Healing

Sap, leaves and bark have healing properties, and are used against skin problems. They have again diuretic functions. Buds can be used in infusions, as purgative medication.

In powder, birch leaves are efficient for renal and digestive elimination. Against rheumatism, an infusion of birch leaves is very efficient. And the young leaves are used to cure infections of urinary system, removing excess water and flushing the body.

This tree can also cure heal acne, skin of spots and fades freckles.

Uses

Birchwood is pretty strong and elastic. That's why it's use, in woodwork, for the realization of some file cases. In the past, it was used to the conception of cart wheels.

Some kinds of birch are used for the paper's conception. Finally, it is appreciate in open fires, because it burns very well, giving a pretty clear flame. When it's completely burns, it doesn't produce too much ash, that's why it was very well used by bakers.

And in Russia, the oil of birch tree is used for tanning Russian leather, giving it a unique smell.

From its sap, in Northern Europe, Russia and North America, people used to do the "Birch Wine", that is drank, of course, but also used in a medicinal way, against the stones in the kidneys. In Scandinavia, they did powder with the wood, and did bread with it, blended with flour.