Celtic symbols, arts and culture
Posts tagged Beltane
Happy Celtic New Year’s
Nov 2nd
Samhain, or Halloween marks the end of the light half of the year and the beginning of the dark half in the Celtic calendar. It may seem odd to think of November 1 as New Year’s Day, but perhaps no stranger than January 1, which is, after all, the heart of winter. A more intuitive New Year’s Day would probably be the start of Spring, around March 21. However, it’s interesting to contemplate why the Celts chose the time of year when winter was approaching to mark the New Year.
Samhain, which was the largest celebration in medieval Ireland, lasting for three days, is also the name of the month of November in Irish and Scottish. It marks the final harvest, as well as being a time to honor the dead. It is also believed to be a time when the “veil” between worlds -the world of the living and the world of the dead- is thinnest. This is the origin of modern Halloween ghosts, witches and so forth.
Wiccan and Celtic Re-constructionist pagans also honor Samhain as the highest holy day. They generally follow the Celtic Wheel of the Year, which is marked by the four seasonal changes (the solstices and equinoxes) and four festivals, Beltane, Samhain, Lughnasa and Imbolc. While the ancient and medieval Celts probably did not follow this calendar precisely, it is based on some of the traditional Celtic festivals and honors the Celtic practice of following the cycles of nature.
Some religious fundamentalists, meanwhile, see Halloween or Samhain as satanic or a celebration of heathen gods. While the latter may be true from a Christian (or monotheistic) point of view, the notion that pagan beliefs are satanic is not accurate. The fact is, paganism originates from a world view that did not recognize a single malevolent entity such as Satan or the Devil, so such an entity was neither worshipped nor feared or hated.
Many Celtic Christians have integrated the traditions of their pagan ancestors with Christian beliefs. For example, November 1 is also All Saints Day. The other pagan festivals have been similarly “updated” with Christian interpretations.
Whatever path you follow, Happy Celtic New Year!
The Celtic Wheel of the Year
Oct 7th
Celtic Wheel of the Year
Samhain (October 31) -this is also called the Celtic New Year. It signifies the beginning of the dark half of the year. From this, we get the modern holiday of Halloween. Samhain was a day to honor the ancestors and it was believed that the veil between the worlds (of the living and dead) was thinnest at this time. So the souls of the dead, as well as otherworldly creatures such as faeries, were free to roam.
Yule/Winter Solstice (approx. December. 21) -this is the shortest day and longest night of the year. While Samhain initiates the dark half of the year, Yule is the height of it. This also means, however, that the days after this begin to get longer as the light half of the year approaches.
Imbolc (February 1) – this day was originally celebrated in honor of the goddess Brigid. It is a preparation for Spring and a time of purification.
Spring Equinox (approx. March 21)- this is the beginning of Spring. In some European cultures it was a celebration of the goddess Ostara, which later became associated with the Christian holiday, Easter. Spring is a celebration of fertility and the lengthening of the days.
Beltane (May 1) -this is the counterpoint in the year to Samhain. Mayday celebrations continue to this day, and throughout history this day has been dedicated to the exuberance and fertility of this time of year.
Summer Solstice (approx. June 21) -this is the longest day of the year, the counterpoint to the Winter Solstice. In Celtic lands this was a day when faeries were about, and gifts were left for them.
Lughnasa/Lammas -this is a pre-autumnal festival of the harvest. The god Lugh was an Irish Sun god, who was also the master of many skills. He has been associated with Hermes and Mercury.
Autumn Equinox/Mabon -this is the beginning of Autumn, and the next harvest festival as the dark half of the year once again approaches.
As you can see from this, Celtic Wheel of the Year
It should be noted for the purpose of historical accuracy that what has come to be known as the Celtic Wheel of the Year is a combination of ancient tradition and more recent, mostly Wiccan and neo-Pagan reconstruction. The Celts did celebrate many of these festivals, in particular Samhain, Beltane, Lughnasa and Imbolc, but they probably did not conceive of the eight-spoked Wheel as many see it today. There seems to be a natural beauty and symmetry to the Wheel of the Year image, and I don’t see a problem calling it the Celtic Wheel, as it owes so much to that tradition, but it’s worth clarifying that the idea is not a perfect representation of ancient beliefs.
