Viking Rune Bead Berkano: Birch and Birth
Specifications
| Color | Bronze |
| Material | Zinc alloy, patinated bronze finish |
| Dimensions | Height: 10 mm | Diameter: 8 mm | Hole: 6 mm |
| For | Unisex |
- For: men and women (adults)
- Zinc alloy, patinated bronze finish
- 6 mm hole · worn on a beard or hair braid
- Sold individually, height 10 mm, diameter 8 mm
- Free shipping from 49€ · secure payment
Berkano, the birch — the tree that grows back first
A vertical stem paired with two triangles, like a B, engraved in a cartouche on a patinated bronze beard and hair bead. Berkano names the birch, and it is the rune most often associated with new beginnings.
Find this design in our collection of Viking beads for beard and hair.
What sets this beard bead apart
- A closed, solid design that catches the light well: the motif remains sharp even as the patina ages.
- The pioneer tree of the North — the first to take root on scorched earth or bare ground.
- A slide-on, not a clasp: the bead is slipped onto the lock before braiding. The fullness of the braid keeps it in place, so there is nothing that can break.
- Approximately 6 mm bore: the only criterion that truly matters. It should be slightly narrower than the finished braid and slightly wider than the loose hair.
Specifications
- Material: Zinc alloy, patinated bronze finish
- Inner hole: approximately 6 mm
- Dimensions: approximately 10 mm in height, 8 mm in diameter
- Wear: beard, mustache, or hair, on a braided plait
- Sold: individually
Did you know?
The Anglo-Saxon rune poem has this exact phrasing for the birch: it bears branches "without fruit," and yet its crown is laden and "touches the sky." A botanically accurate description — the birch does not produce edible fruit — which does not stop the tree from being a symbol of fertility throughout almost all of Northern Europe. Its bark has been used for paper, roofing, and adhesive resin; in Scandinavia, it has been found in graves, rolled up, sometimes bearing inscriptions.
To learn more, our Viking hairstyle guide details cuts, braids, and beards, with sources provided, and our Futhark alphabet guide covers every sign one by one.
Complete your set
What does the Berkano rune mean?
The birch. The Anglo-Saxon rune poem describes a tree with fruitless branches but a laden crown that touches the sky.
Is Berkano a feminine rune?
The association with femininity, birth and motherhood is common today, but it does not appear as such in the rune poems, which only speak of the tree.
What was birch used for among the peoples of the North?
Its bark was an all-purpose material: roofing, containers, resin for gluing. Pieces of it have been found in Scandinavian graves, sometimes bearing inscriptions.
What braid thickness does this bead fit?
A hole of about 6 mm, suited to a medium-density beard braid or a thin braid of hair.
Delivery — Allow 7 to 15 business days for mainland France, 10 to 20 days for the European Union. Free delivery on orders over €49.
Delivery guarantee — If your parcel is not delivered within 60 business days, we will provide an immediate reshipment or a full refund.
14-day returns — You have 14 calendar days from receipt to request an exchange or refund. The item must be returned within this period, in its original packaging.
Legal guarantees — All our products are covered by the legal guarantee of conformity and the guarantee against hidden defects, in accordance with the Consumer Code and the Civil Code.
