Celtic Religion

1. Celtic Religion Tim C. Matt C. Gage P. The Foundation, The Past, The Present

2. Introduction to the Celtic religion • This project provides a cursory overview • on the Celtic religion its customs, its • holidays, and its traditions. The Celtic religion was at its heart druidism but had many old customs and superstitions

3. Foundation & Beliefs • Believed in life after death. • ◦ Buried food, weapons, dead • Three professional 'Classes’ • ◦ Druids • ◦ Bards • ◦ ‘Seers’ • Forest Ceremonies • ◦ No temples • Human sacrifice

4. Festivals • Samhain - the beginning of the dark half of the year. • Imbolc – between winter solstice and spring equinox. • Beltane – midpoint during the summer solstice and the spring equinox . • Lughnasadh - between summer solstice and the autumn equinox. • Yule - first day of winter. Shortest day, but longest night of the year. • Ostara – first day of spring. • Litha – first day of summer. • Mabon – first day of autumn. • N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. http://www.packrat-pro.com/celts/celtholidays.htm

5. Druids • “knowing the oak tree” • Forest-dwellers • Human Sacrifice • ◦likely based in Gaul, Ireland, possibly Britain • Ceremonies • Feast of Beltine, May 1st • Feast of Samhain, November 1st • Feast of Imbolc, February 1st • Feast of Lughnasadh, August 1st • No taxes, little manual labor • ◦ Who wouldn’t want to join in? • http://web.archive.org/web/20091028025434/http://www.geocities.com/mikerdna/arda.html

6. Bards • Special treatment in public • ◦ Normally warrior society • Poets • William Shakespeare- “The Immortal Bard” • Said ‘magical powers’ • ◦ AmairginGlúingel calmed storms with music

7. Seers • - Latin “vates” • ‘Bright Knowledge’ Inner senses • ◦ Closest thing to a prophet at the time • Physical & Invisible • Gléfiosa • ◦ Awakening essence of true vision & wisdom • Seeking • ◦ Expand consciousness to perceive wider reality as a whole

8. Polytheism • The early Celtics had many gods and were very nature oriented believed that rocks, trees, and streams had spirits • Julius casaer found 5 Celtic gods that he deemed similar to some of the roman gods including one that seemed like mars the god of war

9. Citation~ • Joe, Jimmy. "Celtic Mythology." Timeless Myths. N.p., 11 Mar. 1999. Web. 6 Dec. • 2012. <http://www.timelessmyths.com/celtic/aboutceltic.html#Celts>. • } • "Definition of bard." Dictionary.com. N.p., 1995. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. <http:// • dictionary.reference.com/browse/bard>. • } • Guisepi, Robert A. "The religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Celts." International • World History Project. N.p., 1 Jan. 2007. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. <http://history-world.org/ • celts%20religious_beliefs_and_practices_.htm>. • } • Matthews, Caitlin. "Celtic Visions." The Bright Knowledge. N.p., 1 Feb. 2012. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. • <http://caitlin-matthews.blogspot.com/2012/02/bright-knowledge-world-of-celtic-seers.html>. • }