Irish Culture

The Celtic Nations

Alba Cymru Kernow Mannin Galicia Briezh Eire

Scotland Wales Cornwall Isle of Man Spain Brittany Ireland

Cead Mile Failte (A Hundred Thousand Welcomes)

Ancient Celts had migrated to as far east as Ancient Celts had migrated to as far east as the Galatea in Asia Minor, and to the west as the Galatea in Asia Minor, and to the west as far as Spain and the British Isles, around the far as Spain and the British Isles, around the 5th century BC. 5th century BC.

The empire was divided into tribal divisions. The empire was divided into tribal divisions. Celtic tribes warred against each other Celtic tribes warred against each other With spread of their migration, there was a With spread of their migration, there was a

spread of their language and traditionsspread of their language and traditions

TimelineTimeline 900 BC – Celtic speaking people in England 900 BC – Celtic speaking people in England 400 BC – Celtic speaking Celts from Spain 400 BC – Celtic speaking Celts from Spain

arrive in Ireland arrive in Ireland 500 BC - Celts reach Britain 500 BC - Celts reach Britain 400 BC - Celts Invade Italy 400 BC - Celts Invade Italy 387 BC - Celtic Gauls defeat Rome at Alia 387 BC - Celtic Gauls defeat Rome at Alia 279 BC - Celts invade Greece 279 BC - Celts invade Greece 51 BC - Caesar defeats Celts in Gaul 51 BC - Caesar defeats Celts in Gaul

(France)(France) 663 AD - Council of Whitby decides for 663 AD - Council of Whitby decides for

Roman over Celtic Church Roman over Celtic Church

The Three Celtic Paths of LifeThe Three Celtic Paths of Life: :

The Bardic PathThe Bardic Path – World of the Sea, the – World of the Sea, the Mind, the Past, Ancestors, Lore, Genealogy, Mind, the Past, Ancestors, Lore, Genealogy, Songs, Poetry, and Storytelling (History)Songs, Poetry, and Storytelling (History)

The Druid's PathThe Druid's Path - World of the Sky, the - World of the Sky, the Spirits, the Future, the Gods and Spirits, the Future, the Gods and Goddesses of the tribes, Theology, Goddesses of the tribes, Theology, Administration, Politics, AdjudicationAdministration, Politics, Adjudication

The Seer's PathThe Seer's Path - The World of Land, the - The World of Land, the Body, the Present, Nature Spirits, Herbalist, Body, the Present, Nature Spirits, Herbalist, Healing, Alchemy, Weather and DivinationHealing, Alchemy, Weather and Divination

The Druids were the Male/Female Priests of The Druids were the Male/Female Priests of the Celtic people. the Celtic people.

they formed an intellectual class comprising they formed an intellectual class comprising philosophers, judges, educators, historians, philosophers, judges, educators, historians, doctors, seers, astronomers, and astrologers. doctors, seers, astronomers, and astrologers.

The word "Druidae" is of Celtic origin meaning The word "Druidae" is of Celtic origin meaning "an oak." and "knowledge" "an oak." and "knowledge"

The oak is a sacred tree to the Druids. The oak is a sacred tree to the Druids.

Druids filled the roles of judge, doctor, diviner, and Druids filled the roles of judge, doctor, diviner, and scholar - they were the religious intellects of their scholar - they were the religious intellects of their culture. culture.

To become a Druid, students assembled in large To become a Druid, students assembled in large groups for instruction and training, for a period of groups for instruction and training, for a period of up to twenty years. up to twenty years.

capable of many supernatural powers such as capable of many supernatural powers such as divination & prophesy, control of the weather, divination & prophesy, control of the weather, healing, levitation, and shapechanging healing, levitation, and shapechanging

they had a clientele like a doctorthey had a clientele like a doctor One Roman author, Diogenes, placed the Druids One Roman author, Diogenes, placed the Druids

on a list of the ancient world's wisest on a list of the ancient world's wisest philosophers, mathematicians and astronomersphilosophers, mathematicians and astronomers

• Druids hold nothing more sacred than the mistletoe and the tree on which it grows provided it is an oak.

• They choose the oak to form groves, and they do not perform any religious rites without its foliage

• Anything growing on those trees [oaks] they regard as sent from heaven and a sign that this tree has been chosen by the gods themselves.

Many Druids were women; the Celtic Many Druids were women; the Celtic woman enjoyed more freedom and woman enjoyed more freedom and rights than women in any other rights than women in any other contemporary culture, including the contemporary culture, including the rights to enter battle, and divorce her rights to enter battle, and divorce her husband. husband.

Trees

• The 'tree' is dynamic life itself, the result of HEAVEN, EARTH, and WATER; rooted in the earth and reaching toward the heavens

• An evergreen symbolizes immortality

DRUID CALANDER

the Druids developed a calendarthe Druids developed a calendar The months correspond to the Celtic Tree The months correspond to the Celtic Tree

Alphabet. For each month there was a designated Alphabet. For each month there was a designated tree. From this a 'tree calendar' wheel emerged tree. From this a 'tree calendar' wheel emerged

The Druidic view was that the earth was in The Druidic view was that the earth was in darkness at its beginning, that night preceded day darkness at its beginning, that night preceded day and winter preceded summer . Thus, Nov. 1 was and winter preceded summer . Thus, Nov. 1 was New Year's Day for the Celts, their year being New Year's Day for the Celts, their year being divided into four major cycles. divided into four major cycles.

The onset of each cycle was observed with The onset of each cycle was observed with suitable rituals that included feasting and suitable rituals that included feasting and sacrifice. It was called The Festival of Samhain- sacrifice. It was called The Festival of Samhain- linked with Halloween.linked with Halloween.

Druid ObservancesDruid Observances Druids recognize eight particular times Druids recognize eight particular times

during the yearly cycle during the yearly cycle four are solar and four are lunar – balance four are solar and four are lunar – balance

between male & female power between male & female power At the Solstices, the Sun is revered at the At the Solstices, the Sun is revered at the

point of its apparent death at midwinter - point of its apparent death at midwinter - and of its maximum power at the noon of and of its maximum power at the noon of the year when the days are longestthe year when the days are longest

At the Equinoxes, day and night are At the Equinoxes, day and night are balanced. balanced.

Druid Stonehenge Site

Samhuinn or Samhain Samhuinn or Samhain 1 November 1 November

Samhain (pronounced sow-en) meaning "Summer’s Samhain (pronounced sow-en) meaning "Summer’s End," is celebrated on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.End," is celebrated on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

the veil between the mortal and the supernatural was the veil between the mortal and the supernatural was liftedlifted

Samhain is the beginning of the Celtic new year. Samhain is the beginning of the Celtic new year. “ “Fleadh nan Mairbh” (Feast of the Dead) is the time Fleadh nan Mairbh” (Feast of the Dead) is the time

the ancestors were honored and the dead were the ancestors were honored and the dead were remembered. the Spirits of the Dead and those yet to remembered. the Spirits of the Dead and those yet to be born of the clan walked freely amongst the living.be born of the clan walked freely amongst the living.

Food and entertainment were provided in their honor. In Food and entertainment were provided in their honor. In this way the clan remained in unity with its past, this way the clan remained in unity with its past, present and future.present and future.

Carving pumpkins and turnips stem from the Carving pumpkins and turnips stem from the days when the celts were active days when the celts were active headhunters. They believed that the spirit headhunters. They believed that the spirit resided in the head. They also believed that resided in the head. They also believed that if they controlled the head of an enemy they if they controlled the head of an enemy they had killed in battle, and displayed the head had killed in battle, and displayed the head at Samhain they would be safe from at Samhain they would be safe from roaming spiritroaming spirit

It was however remolded into the practice of It was however remolded into the practice of carving vegetables to keep away harm carving vegetables to keep away harm intending spirits. intending spirits.

Lughnasadh or Festival of Lughnasadh or Festival of Light 1 AugustLight 1 AugustMainly concerned with harvest timeMainly concerned with harvest timeTraditionally, this was also the time when marriages Traditionally, this was also the time when marriages

were contracted. were contracted. There were many fairs, games and races. There were many fairs, games and races. It does in a very real way honor Thallium, who as a It does in a very real way honor Thallium, who as a

Goddess of the land, sovereignty, and is the Earth Goddess of the land, sovereignty, and is the Earth Mother. Mother.

Lughnasadh was the season of Lughnasadh was the season of handfastings, or trial marriages that handfastings, or trial marriages that lasted a year and a daylasted a year and a day

After that time the couple had to return After that time the couple had to return to the same place at the fair the to the same place at the fair the following year to make their contract a following year to make their contract a permanent one. permanent one.

They also had the right to declare They also had the right to declare themselves divorced by walking in themselves divorced by walking in opposite directions away from each opposite directions away from each other. other.

Great importance is attached to the bristles of Great importance is attached to the bristles of the boar which symbolize strength. the boar which symbolize strength.

Fish, salmon in particular, are associated Fish, salmon in particular, are associated with knowledge with knowledge

Birds are usually used to represent prophetic Birds are usually used to represent prophetic knowledgeknowledge

Horses, cattle, and pigs represent fertility. Horses, cattle, and pigs represent fertility. The prosperity of the clan is reflected in the The prosperity of the clan is reflected in the

prosperity of its herds. prosperity of its herds.

Spirits and supernatural beings also take Spirits and supernatural beings also take animal forms to guard something. According animal forms to guard something. According to Celtic myths, each holy place generally has to Celtic myths, each holy place generally has a spirit guardian in the form of an animal.a spirit guardian in the form of an animal.

Each well, a spring, a river, a mound, or a Each well, a spring, a river, a mound, or a grove often is likely to have its own spirit.grove often is likely to have its own spirit.

Water places would have a guardian in the Water places would have a guardian in the form of a fish.form of a fish.

Gods from the other world can assume animal Gods from the other world can assume animal forms for other reasonsforms for other reasons