Holly has held a place of honor in Celtic culture for thousands of years. Known as Ilex aquifolium, this evergreen tree symbolizes eternal life, protection, and the triumph of light over darkness.
Holly is an evergreen, has masculine energy, and is symbolic of immortality. Said to repel lightning strikes it was often planted near homes. Thor, the Norse God of Thunder and Lightning, is also associated with Holly.
The month Tinne, as called by the Celts, falls around the holiday of Lughnasa. We often associate evergreen Holly with winter and the Yule Season because during the summer solstice, the Holly King defeats the Oak King and the days start to get shorter.
Fun Fact: It is notably the wood used in Harry Potter’s wand which is good for those with a spiritual quest that requires protection.
The Holly Tree
Holly is a large family with both evergreen and deciduous varieties that grow around the globe in many different climates. Hollys produce bright red berries that are popular with birds. However, some varieties are toxic to humans and pets.
Holly is a fabulous wildlife plant. The leaves are eaten by several butterfly and moth species notably the Holly Blue. The holly blue butterfly is found throughout North America and Europe and is the national butterfly of Finland. Birds, including cedar waxwings, American robins, eastern bluebirds benefit from the berries in winter.
Holly has been traditionally popular with farmers who planted it as a hedge. Today it is commonly used as an ornamental and in wildlife gardens.
Holly wood is very strong and was often used for making weapons such as spears. In addition, it was used in chariot wheels.
Holly is not used as often in wands. A holly wand may select a witch whose on a spiritual or physical quest. It holds strong protection magic.
Correspondences
Ogham Letter: Tinne (T)
Symbolic Meaning: Optimism, Protection, Strength,
Ruling Planet: Mars and Saturn
Ruling Element: Fire
Season: Summer
Corresponding Star Sign: Cancer / Leo
Crystals: Carnelian, Bloodstone, Ruby
Birds: Cardinal, Starling
Animals: bull, horse, unicorn (see my unicorn activity book)
Plants: fresh fruits, bilberries, meadowsweet, roses, wheat
Color: Red
Day: Thursday
Tarot: Hanged Man
Lughnasa
The Holly month culminates with Lughnasa (Lammas), one of the four great Celtic fire festivals, celebrated around August 1st in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. This cross-quarter day marks the beginning of the harvest season and honors Lugh, the Celtic god of skill, craftsmanship, and abundance. It's a time of thanksgiving for summer's abundance while acknowledging the approaching change of seasons.
Historically, Lughnasa was celebrated with community gatherings, craft competitions, and handfasting ceremonies. People would climb hills and mountains, make corn dollies, and share the first bread baked from the new harvest. Markets and fairs were common, bringing communities together to celebrate their collective abundance.
We also refer to this holiday as Lammas. However, Lammas is a Wiccan sabbat. During the conquering by Christians, the Celts were forbidden to celebrate Lughnasa and the Christians reformed it into a Christian holiday where bread was baked to celebrate the harvest.
Lughnasa was also a time to visit wells as was Imbolc and Beltane. A Holy or Clootie well was a sacred place to local villages. Water is necessary for life and these wells had special prominence.
Modern Lughnasa Observances
Today, you can honor Lughnasa by baking bread from scratch, visiting farmers' markets, or simply expressing gratitude for the abundance in your life. Create a Lughnasa altar with fresh grains, seasonal fruits, and golden candles. Share a meal with loved ones, focusing on foods that represent the harvest – corn, apples, berries, and fresh bread.
Consider making a corn dolly or wheat weaving as a meditation on the cycle of planting, growing, and harvesting. This craft connects you to generations of ancestors who understood the sacred nature of the harvest season.
Lugh, Celtic Sun God
Who Was Lugh?
Lughnasa celebrates the God Lugh the god of light, sun, and many skills, including craftsmanship, warfare, and poetry. In ancient Celtic society, Lugh was highly revered as a protector and provider. As the god of light, he brought illumination to the world, symbolizing knowledge and wisdom.
Lugh famously defeated the one-eyed Fomorian giant Balor. He is sometimes equated with the Roman god Mercury and the Norse god Odin.
Not only was this a time to celebrate the crops but it was a time for games and contests. Athletic competitions were quite popular.
Tailteann Games
The famous Tailteann Games were played as a way to honor the dead. The games started by honoring the dead through songs and chants led by Druids. Secondly, they would tell stories that emphasized their laws around a massive bonfire.
The next several days would be physical competitions including long jump, running, spear throwing, swimming, and horseback riding.
Craftspeople would gather to show off their wares and it was a popular time to get married.
Lughnasadh traditions are still kept alive in Great Britain, some such as Reek Sunday have been Christianized. This pilgrimage up Croagh Patrick Mountain is in honor of St. Patrick but dates to the original pagan Tailteann Games.
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How to Celebrate the Holly Month
Celebrating the Holly month is about embracing both protection and transformation. Here are meaningful ways to honor this sacred time:
Create a Holly Altar
Start by bringing holly energy into your living space. If you have access to fresh holly branches, arrange them on your altar with intention. Add white candles, and red stones like garnet or ruby. If fresh holly isn't available, images or artwork featuring holly can carry similar energy. You can also place holly near doorways for protection.
Plant Holly
Better yet, plant two holly bushes in your yard, preferably near the front door. Holly enjoys full sun or part-shade and prefer well-drained soil. Many varieties of holly are either male or female—and female plants depend upon male pollination to produce berries. So make sure you have at least one of each.
Daily Holly Meditation
Begin each day during the Holly month with a simple meditation.
Visualize yourself surrounded by a protective circle of holly trees, their evergreen branches forming a sacred boundary around you. Feel their strength and permanence, knowing that you too possess the resilience to weather any storm.
This practice helps you carry holly's protective energy throughout your day.
Holly Protection Rituals
The Holly month is perfect for protection work. Create charm bags filled with holly leaves, salt, and small protective stones. Hang these near your home's entrances or carry them with you. You might also perform a house blessing, walking clockwise around your home while visualizing holly's protective energy creating a barrier against negative influences.
Check out my pet protection spell below.
Nature Walks and Tree Communion
Spend time in nature during the Holly month, particularly seeking out holly trees or other evergreens. Practice tree communion by sitting quietly among holly or other trees and bushes, if possible. Feel the ancient wisdom and steady strength. These moments of connection deepen your understanding of holly's energy and your own inner resilience.
Holly Month Journaling
Keep a special journal during the Holly month. Write about themes of protection, resilience, and transformation.
What in your life needs protecting?
Where do you need more strength?
What transformations are you ready to embrace?
Holly's energy supports both shielding what's precious and courageously releasing what no longer serves.
Holly Altar
Holly in the Zodiac
In Celtic astrology, those born during the Holly month (July 8th - August 4th) are considered Holly people, carrying the tree's distinctive energy signature. Understanding Holly's astrological associations can deepen your connection to this sacred time, whether you're a Holly person or simply working with the month's energy.
Holly People Characteristics
Holly individuals are natural leaders with strong protective instincts. They possess remarkable resilience and the ability to remain centered during challenging times. Like their tree counterpart, Holly people are often the ones others turn to for shelter and support during difficult periods.
Holly people tend to be generous, noble-hearted, and deeply loyal to their loved ones. They have a natural ability to overcome obstacles and help others do the same. Holly is about balance and people born in this month prefer to examine the pros and cons when making a decision.
Holly gets along well with Ash and Elder and are supportive friends.
However, they can sometimes be overly protective or struggle with letting go of control, mirroring holly's defensive thorns. They have great self-confidence which may be viewed as arrogance. In addition, they may be very sensitive to criticism.
People born in this 8th month are natural leaders and feel protective of their families and followers. They are often drawn to politics, banking, or other leadership roles. They enjoy problem-solving and logic. Celtic chieftains often wore a holly wreath.
Holly Month Energy for All Signs
Even if you weren't born during the Holly month, you can work with its energy during this time. Holly month encourages everyone to:
Develop stronger boundaries and protection practices
Embrace leadership roles and responsibilities
Cultivate resilience and inner strength
Practice generosity and support for others
Balance protective instincts with healthy trust
Working with Holly Zodiac Energy
During the Holly month, set intentions around protection, leadership, and resilience. If you're a Holly person, this is your power time – use it to launch important projects or make significant life changes. For other signs, Holly month offers an opportunity to develop these qualities and integrate them into your personality.
Create affirmations that connect you to Holly energy:
"I am strong and resilient like the holly tree,"
"I protect what I love while remaining open to growth."
These affirmations help you embody Holly's balanced energy of strength and flexibility.
To learn more about the Celtic Months you can read my article 13 CELTIC TREE MONTHS
Holly Magic: Spells, Rituals, and Sacred Practices
Holly's magical properties have been revered for centuries, making it a powerful ally for protection, purification, and transformation work. The Holly month amplifies these magical properties, creating ideal conditions for powerful spell work and ritual.
Protective Magic with Holly
Holly excels at creating protective barriers and shielding negative energy. During the Holly month, create protection spells by weaving holly leaves into small wreaths or bundles. Hang these over doorways, windows, or in your car for mobile protection. The thorns naturally deflect harmful energy while the evergreen leaves maintain a steady protective field.
For personal protection, carry a single holly leaf in your wallet or pocket. Visualize it creating a protective bubble around you, deflecting negativity while allowing positive energy to flow freely. Replace the leaf monthly to maintain its potency.
Transformation and Growth Magic
Holly supports deep transformation work, helping you release what no longer serves while strengthening what supports your growth. During the Holly month, perform transformation rituals by writing down habits, beliefs, or patterns you wish to release on small pieces of paper. Burn these safely while holding a piece of holly, visualizing the smoke carrying away what you've released.
Follow this with a growth ritual: plant seeds (literal or metaphorical) while holding holly leaves, asking for the tree's strength to support your new growth. This combination of release and renewal harnesses holly's full transformative power.
Holly Divination
Holly can enhance divination practices during its month. Lay holly leaves on top of your tarot or oracle card deck to increase protective energy during readings. You can also practice holly divination by observing holly trees: healthy, vibrant holly indicates strong protection and positive energy, while struggling holly might suggest the need for stronger boundaries or healing work.
This month is a good one to do spells for animals.
You can download the Pet Protection Spell described below in my STORE for Free
Pet Protection Spell Jar
Holly is good for protection magic and so this month I wanted to do a pet protection spell.
Spell jars, or witches bottles, are easy to make and keep all the ingredients in one container. That way the magic continues to grow and get stronger.
Check out this spell and others on Other Worldly Oracle
Ingredients:
Mason jelly jar with lid
A pinch of your pet’s hair, a feather, or shute - depending on the species. Take one that has naturally fallen off the body
Choose one or two protection crystals such as Tiger’s eye, black tourmaline, or citrine.
3 sprigs of protective herbs such as rosemary, cloves, cinnamon, chili powder, or sage
a photo or belonging of your pet such as a toy or piece of bedding/blanket
paper and pen
Method:
Cleanse your jar and workspace
Write down your intention. For example, “keep my pet healthy and safe from harm. (Your chosen deity) empower this protective charm.”
Say it out loud and place it in the jar.
Add each ingredient, one at a time, to the jar.
Each time you add an ingredient state your intention
Place the lid on the jar.
Hold the jar and visualize your pet safe and happy.
Say “So mote it will be”
Place the pet protection spell jar in a meaningful location.
Author, Ame, is the founder of Celebrate Pagan Holidays and an Environmental Educator.
