The animal itself
The male carries the pregnancy in a brooding pouch and gives birth to up to 2 000 young. Seahorses have no stomach, so they must eat almost constantly.1 of 2 calendars · 40 searches a month
Seahorse
Adaptability without losing shape.
Which calendar assigns it, and when
Celtic calendar
13 May – 9 June
Its tree
Hawthorn
Only the Celtic calendar assigns this one. Anyone born in these dates gets a different animal from the other system — the two agree on 4.7% of days →
What it stands for, and where that came from
Adaptability without losing shape — holding on while the water moves.
Honoured in: Greek hippocampus drawing Poseidon's chariot; Celtic association with patience.
The symbolism usually grew out of the behaviour rather than the other way round — which is the part worth keeping when the rest is set aside.