Celtic Religion
Rituals
- Seasonal feasts: Celebration times are the solstices and equinoxes, though the four cross-quarter dates were the original dates. The four cross-quarter dates were stellar and lunar celebrations.
- Death rituals and ancestor worship: the ancestors whom they worshipped were the deities.
- Divinatory Rituals
- Magic Rituals
- Agricultural Rituals
- Fire Rituals
- Rites of Passage: There were many rituals for various rites of passage, including...
Birth
Naming
Acceptance into the community
Marriage
Initiation as a warrior
A king, queen, druid, etc.
Death
- Sacrifice Rituals
- Prophesying Rituals
- Healing Rituals
- Blessing and Curses
- Protection Rituals
- War Rituals/ Military Magic
- Various Religious Rituals: an example of those religious rituals a temple roofing ritual
Sacred Objects and Symbols
- Triskele: A triple spiral, one of the most common elements of Celtic art. Related to the sun. Also thought of as a symbol of pregnancy
- Spirals: Oldest symbol of human spirituality. Usually found scratched into rocks. Connected to sun and rebirth/resurrection
- Trees: The Celtic Tree of Life. Bearer of Food, Provider of Shelter, Food for Cooking, Warmth. Supposedly wood from sacred trees had magical properties copied in the Ogham alphabet.
- Mistletoe: Also called the Golden Bough. Used in Ancient Worship. Celtics were very good at medicine. Mistletoe was the most sacred herb.
- Plants: Were skilled in the making and working of medicine. Used plants in lore, correspondence, etc.
- Cauldrons: From Ancient Celtic Mythology. Used cauldrons to cook food. Also used it in ritual. It was an image of divine inspiration and/or abundance.
- Pendants (Amulets)
Celtic Religion
Animal Symbolism:
Animals were usually tied with...
Certain animals had certain associations. They were placed by their characteristics. Some were used as symbols.
Frequently described were the...
- fishes-associated with...
- knowledge
- salmon were mostly grouped with knowledge
- birds-associated with...
- prophetic knowledge
- skill
- bloodshed
- serpents-represent...
- trouble
- dragons also symbolized trouble
- herd animals-symbolize...
- boars-represents...
- wealth
- courage
- strong warriors
- fertility
Musicians and Bards
Musicians were very important in Celtic life and religion...
- Celts believed that music and religious knowledge was so important and sacred, that it was not to be written down, so everything was memorized.
- Bard: a composer or someone who recites poetry. They are from ancient Celtic mythology
Religion: How they worshipped...
- The Celts worshipped many different gods and goddesses.
- Epona-one of the oldest Celtic gods associated with the horse. Also the goddess of fertility. If you gave her sacrifices, she would help your crops grow that year.
- The Celts worshipped these deities in sacred groves, though they did have a few temples