The Celtic Holidays, like other Reconstructionist traditions, place emphasis on historical accuracy. We, bases our Holidays celebrations, and rituals on traditional lore from living Celtic, Reconstructionist cultures, in addition to research into older beliefs of the polytheistic Celts. Tradition, research and archaeology tell us that all celebrated Druid Holy Holidays are from sunset on the day before, to sunset on the following day of each of the actual holidays. Thus, there are three days centring on those respective holiday, each with their respective importance. Our eight festivals, in order are:
The linear names of our 8 festive celtic holidaysare:- Samain is the Celtic New-year, the first day of winter and is the first of theceltic holidays. Samain Celebrate Samain by honoring your ancestors and the Gods and Goddesses. Invite the Great Goddess to bless your Samain Rites. is celebrated On the 5th,6th and 7th in November, 2011 with the main Celtic Holidays feast centering on the 6th.
- Meán Geimhridh is the second holiday of the Celtic Holidays ("Middle of Winter") is The Winter Solstice in Irish, and is celebrated on December 20th, 21st and 22nd in 2011, with the main Holiday feast centering on the 21st.
- imbolg is the beginning of Spring and is is the third holiday of the Celtic Holidays. Celebrate Imbolg by purification, cleansing, washing your entire home and family in a ritualistic cleansing ceremony. honor your ancestors and the Gods and Goddesses during your main rite. Invite the Great Goddess to bless your Samain Rites. is celibrated On the 4th, 5th and 6th of February, 2011 with the main Celtic Holidays feast centering on the 5th.
- Meán Earraigh means "Middle of Spring, and is is the fourth holiday of the Celtic Holidays." give thanks to the Earth for its bounty and beauty. The ancient Celts played games and sports to honor the God Lugh and to celebrate strength and good health. This is a time to harvest the dreams planted earlier in the year. traditional Tailtean craft fairs and Tailtean marriages (which last for a year and a day) are celebrated at this time. honor your ancestors and the Gods and Goddesses during your main rite. Invite the Great Goddess to bless your Samain Rites. ("Middle of Spring") is the Spring Equinox in Irish and is celibrated on March 19,20,21, 2011, with the main Holiday feast centering on the 20th.
- Belteine is the fifth of the Celtic Holidays with feasts and rituals, and songing and dancing. Bealtaine is a time to pray and give thanks to the fertility god and goddess to ensure a bountiful harvest in the fall. Bealtaine is also a time where marriages of a year and a day (Sainings) could be undertaken. honor your ancestors and the Gods and Goddesses during your main rite. Invite the Great Goddess to bless your Samain Rites. is celibrated On the 30th April, 1st and 2nd of May, 2011 with the main Celtic Holidays feast centering on the 1st of April.
- Meán Samhraidhmeans "Middle of Summer, and is the seventh holiday of the Celtic Holidays." give thanks to the Earth for its bounty and beauty. The ancient Celts played games and sports to honor the God Lugh and to celebrate strength and good health. This is a time to harvest the dreams planted earlier in the year. traditional Tailtean craft fairs and Tailtean marriages (which last for a year and a day) are celebrated at this time. honor your ancestors and the Gods and Goddesses during your main rite. Invite the Great Goddess to bless your Samain Rites.The Summer Solstice in Irish is Mean Sámhraidh ("Middle of Summer") in Irish. June 20,21,22 with the main Holiday feast centering on the 21st.
- Lúgnasad means "Commemoration of Lugh." Give thanks on this, the eaighth and final holiday of the Celtic Holidays, to the Earth for its bounty and beauty. The ancient Celts played games and sports to honor the God Lugh and to celebrate strength and good health. This is a time to harvest the dreams planted earlier in the year. traditional Tailtean craft fairs and Tailtean marriages (which last for a year and a day) are celebrated at this time. honor your ancestors and the Gods and Goddesses during your main rite. Invite the Great Goddess to bless your Samain Rites.is celibrated On the 6th,7th and 8th of August, 2011 with the main Celtic Holidays feast centering on the 7th
- Meán Fómhair means "Middle of Autumn." in Irish.The Autumn Equinox in Irish is Meán Fómhair (Middle of Autumn") September 23rd, 24th, 25th - 2011 with the main Holiday feast centering on the 24th.
For those truely wishing to reconstruct the Iron-Aged Druids, The Druids of the Iron-ages were more than just a religious group. They were the educated class of Celtic society. A Druid could be a Doctor of medicine, psychology or some other kind of doctor. (Doctor = most educated in a particular field of study). Most Druids had a firm knowledge of the following:
- Law
- Education
- Religion and Theology
- Astronomy
- Astrology
- Political Science
- General Medicine
- First Aid
- Herbology
- Bardic Arts
- Reciting Stories
- Genealogy
- Be able to play at least one musical instrument (The Harp was the preferred musical instrument by the Iron-aged Bards)
- Natural Magic. (Just to name a few of their disciplines)
So, if one is truly wishing to reconstruct the Druids of the Iron-ages, one must go to university and receive a few doctorates. Most people today, are unwilling to go through this much advanced education however, thus today’s Druids are a watered down version of the Iron-aged Druids, with some very rare exceptions.
Some of the topics we will discuss here are as follows:
- The four Greater Holy Celtic Holidays (Fire Festivals)
- The four Lesser Holy Holidays days (Solar Festivals) (Announced soon)
- Celtic music - Then and now (Announced soon)
- Mythology (Announced soon)
- Literature (Announced soon)
- Art forms (Announced soon)
- Traditional Irish Gaelic social values. (Announced soon)
I've had some discussions with various people, on whether or not the Druid faith is a true cultural faith, or just a philosophy. Here are just a very few points I've outlined as to why our culture is a true cultural faith:
- Celts and our Druids worship several Gods and several Goddesses, with a main head dieity - The Greate Goddess (Danu in Irish reconstructionist Celtic tradition) Yes - worship THEM! Pay Homage to THEM! That said though, we never groval to them. They find that insulting!
- There are strict rules in all the Celtic reconstructionist groves on who can become a Druid. In most Celtic reconstructionist groves, it takes 15 to 21 years to become a Druid.
- Unlike non-earth based faiths, Celts and our Druids do not separate our belief in religion, philosophy, way of life et cetera. EVERYTHING we do as an existing being, is all tied together in one package, never to be separated. (what all true religions should do and be.)
- Celtic Druids have a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices.
- Celtic Druids have a body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices called a Grove or Clan. Although there are some who chose to practice on their own, it is easier to have a grove to guide your path's education.
- Celts and our Druids practice of religious belief; ritual observance of faith, et cetera which are fundamental to our existence.
- Celtic Druids have beliefs and follows devotedly, those beliefs, and teaches them to initiates, of whom show are ready to study.
- Celtic Druids practice various religious rites, including handfasting/marriage, saining/baptism, burial rites, et cetera.
- Celtic Druids have a strict faithfulness; a devotion: an oath to the vows that have been taken.
- Our Holidays are religious events which require ordained Druids to correctly, properly and accureately conduct them.
Now, how is that not a cultural religion?
The above is only a portion of what you will find within The Celtic Holidays pages.
Updated on Monday, November 14, 2011
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