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About Yew Trees
Yew trees symbolise death, and they symbolise rebirth. Commonly found in churchyards, they protect the deceased but also welcome the newly-weds. They have religious connotations, but they also have equally strong pagan ones. In many cases the yew tree in a churchyard long pre-dates the churchyard itself and was sacred to ancient Celtic and Norse cultures, used by druids to have gatherings beside.
Yews are also Europe's oldest living things. The Defynnog Yew in Wales' Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park and Scotland's Fortingall Yew in Perthshire are still going and growing after 2500 years: since the founding of the Roman Empire. Yews endure. They stand the test of time.
Hopefully, after reading this, you'll see why the yew is the symbol of Yew Tree Celebrancy.
For us it epitomises, in one precious living thing, everything we stand for as a celebrancy. The end of life, and the beauty of life. The transition between life and the next stage of the journey, whatever that is. Ceremonies that have religious elements, ceremonies that don't, ceremonies that are beautiful and dignified and live on long after the day itself has passed.
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