Celtic Animal Birth Signs

The origins of this list are unknown.

The day you were born can affect your personality according to the Celts, who likened us to a particular animal according to our birthdays.

Date of Birth: December 24 - January 20

Animal: Stag

Gaelic Name: Damh (Approximate pronunciation: Dav)

Ruling Planet: The Sun

Key Words: Independence, Majesty, Integrity, Pride

Gift Quality or Ability: Sensitivity to other worlds, shape shifting, initiation, journeying

Birthstone: Crystal

Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of adder and salmon. Will also relate well to the signs of seal, otter & goose. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.

Date of Birth: January 21 - February 17

Animal: Crane

Gaelic Name: Corr (Approximate pronunciation: Corr)

Ruling Planet: Uranus

Key Words: Secret Knowledge, Eccentric, Patient

Gift Quality or Ability: Crane people are unusually clever people with specialized skills and talents, with a progressive outlook on life. Sense of the evolving spirit. Sensitivity to the other world, journeying, magick.

Birthstone: Peridot

Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of bee and swan. Will also relate well to the signs of bear, owl and cat. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.

Date of Birth: February 18 - March 17

Animal: Seal

Gaelic Name: Ron (Approximate pronunciation: Ron)

Ruling Planet: Neptune

Key Words: Spiritual, Loving, Super-sensitive.

Gift Quality or Ability: Seal people tend to have great compassion and are highly adaptable folk. They are also the romantics and dreamers of life. Artistic and emotional. Sensitivity to the other world. Shape changing and connection with the faerie folk.

Birthstone: Coral

Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of otter and goose. Will also relate well to the signs of salmon, stag, and adder. Difficulties maybe expected in relation to all other signs.

Date of Birth: March 18 - April 14

Animal: Bear

Gaelic Name: Art (Approximate pronunciation: A as in cAt, R as in english, T as in english Chin. AiRCH)

Ruling Planet: Mars

Key Words: Achieving, Primal Power, Instinct.

Gift Quality or Ability: Bear people are very connected to their ancestral roots. Filled with courage and a sense of adventure. Extremely physical, extroverts. Protection, journeying, and sensitivity to the other world.

Birthstone: Ruby

Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of cat and owl. Will also relate well to the signs of crane, bee and swan. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.

Date of Birth: April 15 - May 12

Animal: Adder

Gaelic Name: Nathair (Approximate pronunciation: na-CHair. N, a in cAt, T as in Chin, h - silent, air.)

Ruling Planet: Moon

Key Words: Transformation, Healing, Life Energy.

Gift Quality or Ability: Adder people have a virtue of resourcefulness, that is one of their greatest strengths. Strong interest in family. Excellent memory. Drawn to natural methods of healing. Healing, magick, shape shifting and initiation.

Birth Stone: Moonstone

Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of stag and salmon. Will also relate well to the signs of seal, otter and goose. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.

Date of Birth: May 13 - June 9

Animal: Bee

Gaelic Name: Beách (Approximate pronunciation: beh-ach. B, E as in gEt, A as in cAt, CH as in German iCH.)

Ruling Planet: Vulcan

Key Words: Organization, Community, Analytical.

Gift Quality or Ability: Bee people are very charismatic and full of new ideas. Lively spontaneity and the ability to communicate on every level. Influential and very social. Fertility and creativity.

Birth Stone: Topaz

Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of crane and swan. Will also relate well to the signs of bear, cat and owl. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.

Date of Birth: June 10 - July 7

Animal: Otter

Gaelic Name: Dobhran (Approximate pronunciation: dav-rhan.)

Ruling Planet: Jupiter

Key Words: Family, Helpfulness, Intuitive.

Gift Quality or Ability: Otter people are enterprising with a wide breadth of vision. Very optimistic with a personal magnetism. Protection, shape shifting, and journeying.

Birth Stone: Diamond

Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of goose and seal. Will also relate well to the signs of salmon, adder, and stag. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.

Date of Birth: July 8 - August 4

Animal: Cat

Gaelic Name: Kati (Approximate pronunciation: ka-Chi.)

Ruling Planet: Earth

Key Words: Creative, Sensual, Nobility

Gift Quality or Ability: Cat people have a strong sense of personal integrity and a firm set of values. Loyal and trustworthy. Deep devotion to family. Affectionate. Protection, shape shifting and sensitivity to the other world.

Birth Stone: Red Carnelian

Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of owl and bear. Will also relate well to the signs of the crane, bee, and swan. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.

Date of Birth: August 5 - September 1

Animal: Salmon

Gaelic Name: Bradan (Approximate pronunciation: bra-TAN.)

Ruling Planet: Mercury

Key Words: Wisdom, Inspiration, Rejuvenation

Gift Quality or Ability: Salmon people have knowledge of the arts and science as well as good reasoning powers. Perceptive and clever. Keen observers. Initiation, shape shifting, connection with faerie.

Birth Stone: Amethyst

Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of adder and stag. Will also relate well to the signs of otter, seal and goose. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.

Date of Birth: September 2 - September 29

Animal: Swan

Gaelic Name: Eala (Approximate pronunciation: ellah.)

Ruling Planet: Venus

Key Words: Beauty, Love and Soul.

Gift Quality or Ability: Swan people are kind and gentle, adept in love and the social arts. Calm and serene with a strong domestic sense. Connection with faerie, shape shifting, and creativity.

Birth Stone: Emerald

Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of crane and bee. Will also relate well to the owl, cat and bear. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.

Date of Birth: September 30 - October 27

Animal: Goose

Gaelic Name: Geadh (Approximate pronunciation: Gia-gh.)

Ruling Planet: Moon

Keywords: Veiling, Direction, Vigilance, Stamina

Gift Quality or Ability: Goose people are generous providers but also thrifty savers and investors regarding their future security. They have a sharp intellect as well as a wit. Artistic. Protection, fertility, and creativity.

Birth Stone: Opal

Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of seal and otter. Will also relate well to the signs of adder, stag and salmon. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.

Date of Birth: October 28 - November 24

Animal: Owl

Gaelic Name: Cailleach-oidhche (Approximate pronunciation: Kall-eeck Oheeche.)

Ruling Planet: Pluto

Keywords: Wisdom, Change, Detachment.

Gift Quality or Ability: Owl people have a powerful presence and personal magnetism that can both attract and overpower sensitive people. Highly imaginative and passionate. Initiation, sensitivity to the other world, magick.

Birth Stone: Jasper

Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of cat and bear. Will also relate well to the signs of bee, swan and crane. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.

Date of Birth: November 25 - December 23

Animal: Raven

Gaelic Name: Bran (Approximate pronunciation: Bran.)

Ruling Planet: Saturn

Gift Quality or Ability: Raven people have a constructive approach to life.They will continue a struggle that would defeat most people. They are very self-disciplined and patient. Shape shifting, sensitivity to the other world, connection to the faerie.