Tribal Roots Finder

This tree of “knowledge and strength” has been held sacred by every culture that encountered it. No fewer than 17 countries around the world call it their “national tree,” and six U.S. states call it their state tree…In mythology, it was sacred to Zeus, Jupiter, Thor , the Celts, the Serbs, and to this day, the Finns still this tree “God’s tree.”

The mighty Oak represents the doorway to knowledge, abundance, endurance, and ability to weather troubles with nobility and grace. It has been regarded as sacred by almost every culture on earth, held in high esteem due to its size, longevity and nutritious acorns.

In ancient Greece, to have partaken of the acorns of Zeus was a vernacular expression for having acquired wisdom and knowledge.

While not particularly tall, the Oak can become quite massive with its lower branches reaching far out parallel to the ground, often making it as wide as it is tall. Its acorns are a valuable wildlife food and were also used as a food by native peoples around the world. Its wood is highly valued for its density, strength and resiliency. Depending on the species, the Oak can live 1,000+ years.

The Celtic word for Oak, is “Duir” from which we get the word “door.” And Celtic mythology perceived the Oak as the tree of doors, a gateway between worlds, or to greater knowledge. Legend says that King Arthur’s Round Table was made from a Giant Oak Tree. And Ireland’s first native-born saint, Brigid, founded Kildare Abbey in 470 AD, a double monastery, for nuns and monks, on the plains of Cill-Dara, “the church of the oak;” her cell being made under a large oak tree.

In Norse mythology, the oak was sacred to the thunder god, Thor. As one of the largest trees in northern Europe, the Oak was the one most often struck by lightning, so it was said to ‘court the flash.’ This tendency for the oak tree to be struck by lightening led Native Americans and many other cultures to relate the Oak to gods of the sky.

To the Greeks, the Oak was a symbol of Zeus and his sacred tree. The oracle of Dodona, which in prehistory consisted solely of a holy oak. And Hercules is often depicted carrying a club, staff, or wand made of oak.

Planting an acorn in the dark was believed to ensure money in the near future.

A species of Oak is the national tree to many countries… Cyprus, England, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, United States of America, Wales. And while Andorra has no national tree, the evergreen oak is important; in fact, its name is from the Moorish word ‘aldarra,’ meaning “place thick with trees.”