Celtic Queen Medb Celtic Traditions As the next millennium approaches, a growing number of people raised in various Judeo-Christian religious traditions find themselves attracted to the spiritual traditions of the Celts going back more than 1500 years. Today, there are thousands of people of Celtic ancestry and others, who are trying to relearn the ancient wisdom and spirituality prevalent during the time of Saint Patrick in Ireland around 432 C.E. Some are discovering Celtic spirituality through Irish history, myth, and poetry -- others through the revival of Irish music and dance. Pilgrimages to sacred sites and courses about Celtic mythology are now commonplace. There are groups of individuals who label themselves Celtic "Reconstructionists." Their goal is to reconstruct rituals, organize festivals and conventions, and distribute study courses. The information below offers a less formal approach and encourages a spiritual understanding rooted in nature, the land, and protection of the Earth. For lack of a better term, let's call those who choose to learn and practice these ancient Celtic ways Celtic "reformists." For those interested in practicing Celtic spiritual traditions, this primer about the key holidays and rituals provides a starting point. In the words of Wallace Black Elk, an elder of the Native American Lakota tribe, "No tradition dies until the last person who honors it dies." The Celtic Trinity The trinity and the shamrock were symbols that had great significance to the Celts. The myth of St. Patrick using the shamrock to preach the gospel of Christianity by comparing its three leaves with the Father, the Son and the holy spirit, was probably derived from the Celtic metaphor of the shamrock representing a "trust in your soul," "belief in your heart" and "faith in your mind." This trinity forms the basis of Celtic spiritual beliefs.   Saint Padraig Celtic Holidays The winter and summer solstice, and the spring and fall vernal equinox were celebrated by the Celts and in between are the four major holidays. In the Celtic world, days began at sundown, so all holidays commenced at sundown and continued the following day. The sun and the moon (and to some extent the planets) determined the dates of all eight Celtic holidays. The winter solstice or Yule coincides with Christmas. This was the Celts time to celebrate the darkest day of the year and look toward the everlasting -- hence the evergreen as the best known symbol of Christmas. Good food and drink was had by all, according to Mike Nichols (Micromuse Press) writing about Celtic festivals, and all partook in a drink from the "waeshael" (to be whole) cup. Nearly all the traditions of Christmas, from caroling to standing under the mistletoe, have Celtic origins, Nichols notes. The spring equinox coincides with Easter. Easter egg hunts and visits by the Easter bunny were both symbolic of cosmic fertility. The summer solstice, or midsummer's celebration was traditionally celebrated on June 24th. A custom was for all the young folk to stay up for the whole night, keeping watch over a fire. Musical bands and dancers would wander from one fire to the next. A courageous soul might spend the night alone keeping watch in the center of a circle or standing stones -- the result being madness or hopefully the acquisition of the gifts to become a great bard or poet. The fall equinox or harvest home represents the fading of summer light and the spirit of fields (as the fields go fallow, the spirit of the sun becomes trapped in the corn). An effigy made of the last sheaf of the harvest is carried from the field and burned at sundown. Harvest home was a time to rest and rejuvenate the spirit from a season of hard work. The fall traditions of drinking cider and harvest ale, enjoying caramel apples and marveling at the harvest moon, are all in line with the Celtic fall tradition. The four major holidays: IMBOLC (pronounced em-bolc) - February 1 -- This holiday, which coincides with Groundhog Day, Candlemas and to some extent Valentines Day, venerates the Celtic Goddess Brigid. She became St. Brigit after her "death" and was supposedly converted and baptized by St. Patrick. She was associated with miracles and fertility. Into the 18th century a women's only shrine was kept to her in Kildare. There, nineteen nuns tended Her continually burning sacred flame. An ancient song was sung to Her: "Brigid, excellent woman, sudden flame, may the bright fiery sun take us to the lasting kingdom." Celtic Saint Brigid Imbolc Customs: - Blessing rushes/straw and making Brigid wheels - Putting out food and drink for Brigid on Her eve (such as buttered bread, milk, grains, seeds) - Chair by hearth decorated by women; young woman carries in first flowers & greens, candle. - Opening the door and welcoming Her into the home. "Bride! Come in, the bed is made! - Preserve the House for the Triple Goddess!" Scottish Gaelic Invocation: "May Brigit give blessing to the house that is here; Brigit, the fair and tender, Her hue like the cotton-grass, Rich-tressed maiden of ringlets of gold." - Removing Yuletide greens from home & burning them - Cleaning up fields and home - Burning old Brigid's wheels and making new ones - Placing Brigid's wheel above/on door to bless home Brigid's Wheel BELTAINE (pronounced Biel-ten-eh) May 1 -- (May Day) This was the most sacred of Celtic ritual days. It is the harbinger of the blossoming flowers and fruit. Beltaine, celebrated in May, was also related to the fertility of cattle and crops. Beltaine is commonly associated with fire rites. The most well known of the Beltaine fire rites had to do with driving the herds between bonfires, through their smoke, for purification and protection against evil spirits. The Maypole, where colorful cloth ribbons are draped from a pole and boys circle in one direction and girls in the other to wind the cloth, is a fun Beltaine ritual which represents the union of life. LUGHNASA (pronounced Loo-ness-a) August 1 -- (the celebration of the God "Lugh" representing sun and plenitude) This was the summer festival where marriages were consummated and communities celebrated with song and dance. Lughnasa, celebrated from mid July to mid August, was the harvest festival. A great feast would be held on August 1st to celebrate the richness of the harvest and to honor the gods. Unlike other fire festivals, which were essentially family and homestead affairs, Lughnasa was celebrated in the community as a whole. Major assemblies took place, often on the top of high points in the landscape. Dancing and feasting were high on the agenda. Until the 12th century, the Tailltinn games were held on August 1st.These were the equivalent of the Olympic Games of classical Greece, and were named after Tailtu, Lugh's foster mother. Afterwards, a bonfire would be lit and there would be dancing and singing around it. SAMHAIN (pronounced Sow-en) November 1 -- (Halloween and All Souls Day) This was the holiday to honor ancestors and the dead. Masks were worn so that the spirits might not recognize you and would pass you by for another year. Samhain heralded the start of the Celtic new year. It was celebrated on October 31 and commemorated the creation of order out of chaos and the beginning of the world. During this celebration the division between this world and the other world dissolved and the spirits roamed the earth. Nearly all of the Halloween rituals have their roots in Samhain. Celtic Baptism Basic baptismal rituals were practiced dating back to the 12th Century, following is a simple ceremony suggested from those early Celtic rituals: [A group of family and friends gather outdoors near trees, a backyard, park or a clearing. Mother wears green, child wears white, three candles are lit and a favorite nature poem or prayer is recited. A tray or altar containing a dish of salt, water, and incense are needed.] "May all those gathered here today help guide and love this child. May (god parents' names) step forward and volunteer to serve as spiritual guardians to (child's name) and remind him/her always of the traditional Celtic trinity, a blessing which aims to make us complete; that you may have trust in your soul, belief in your heart, and faith in your mind." [Elevate salt.] "We offer up salt as a symbol of that which is bitter, but has the power to preserve and defend." [The child is held by the mother.] "Mother and Earth gave birth to this child." [The child is then held up overhead.] "The sky provides inspiration for the imagination and spirit." [The child is passed over the three candles.] [Water is then rubbed on the infants head by the leader of the ceremony three times, or nine times if by the eldest mother present -- if the eldest mother present rubs the water, she should recite the following:] "A small wave for your form A small wave for your voice A small wave for your speech A small wave for your means A small wave for your generosity A small wave for your appetite A small wave for your wealth A small wave for your life A small wave for your health Nine waves of grace upon you Waves of the Giver of Health" [Ceremony leader then recites the following:] "Water has the power to cleanse and sustain." [Incense is then offered and lit.] "Incense will lend your life joy and delight." "Bestow upon (child's full name) in the hour of need; the love of God, the wisdom of God, the power of God." [Meditate on the visualization for a time, then extinguish the flame, leaving the incense to burn out.] The Fiana One group of Celts who adhered to a lifestyle dedicated to nature and poetry, were known as the fiana (pronounced FEE-inah). The fiana developed a powerful relationship with the forest and the land. Joining the fiana was a choice. It was not based on ancestry. The fiana eventually became the appointed defenders of Ireland against foreign invaders. A fian, or feinid, must have an advanced liberal education and be versed in twelve traditional forms of poetry. A candidate must also endure physical tests of agility and bravery. Once accepted as a feinid, you live somewhat outside the community, but not outside the law, as the law recognizes the fiana's position as a protector of the community. A revival of the Celtic fiana would be beneficial to the education of young men and women, akin to the Boy and Girl Scouts. This would be a positive way to channel the energy of adolescents who identify with being outsiders, yet yearn for direction and a sense of purpose. Here is a suggested "reformed" initiation into the fiana for Celtic reformists. This would be similar to the traditional Christian confirmation and bar and bat mitzvah of Judaism. At the age of 12 or older, young men and women could complete the following 12 tasks as an initiation into the fiana: - reciting the four major Celtic holidays and remarking briefly on each one (Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasa and Samhain) - singing the national anthem or national song - learning a story from the Celtic myths - learning the story of Finn McCool and Oisin (pronounced O-sheen -- the original Fiana) - reciting the Celtic Trinity (trust in your soul, believe in your heart, have faith in your mind) - reciting a prayer - singing a song or playing a song on an instrument - reciting a poem about nature - jumping over something as high as you are tall and running under a stick placed at the level of your knee - running quietly through the forest without upsetting brush or trees - learning to identify the oak tree - spending a night in the woods away from others Wedding Ceremony There were many rituals associated with wedding ceremonies among Celtic peoples. Many customs were specific to local areas of Ireland, Scotland, and Brittany. Some of those customs have been passed along and survived to the present day. The most important aspect of all Celtic weddings was the feast. This included the families of the bride and groom as well as friends and members of the community. Unlike weddings in modern times, which distinguish between the wedding ceremony and the reception, Celts viewed the whole affair as one grand ceremony that joined the spirits of the bride and groom and the community was there to solidify the bond. The Celtic bride was held in great esteem. The term bride is Celtic in origin, coming from Brigid, the exalted goddess and saint of Celtic lore. One interesting tradition that took place at Lughnasa, the great summer harvest festival honoring the Sun god Lugh, was the one year trial wedding. Couples often paired up during Beltaine (May day) and courted through the summer to be wed during Lughnasa. One year later, during the following Lughnasa, the couple could decide if they would like to remain married. The bride and groom would face opposite directions and would then choose to walk apart or remain together. Following is a suggested Celtic wedding ceremony using various elements from Celtic weddings. The Ceremony: [Members of the wedding party gather outdoors. Trees, water and other natural elements provide an uplifting setting for this ceremony. If the ceremony takes place indoors, green branches from an oak tree, branches from an evergreen during winter months, and flowers will provide the proper spirit. The minister or ceremony conductor should wear a white shirt and a green scarf, sash or necktie. An alter should be prepared which contains incense, three candles, a two foot length of silk rope, a chalice or cup and a pitcher filled with wine or ale and an oak branch (two feet in length is sufficient). A member of the wedding party should light the incense before the start of the ceremony.] MINISTER: Friends, family and members of the community, welcome to this ceremony which will unite two souls in marriage. Marriage is an institution which should not be entered into lightly, it is the union of two souls, two hearts and two minds. The Celtic trinity, which is a centuries old profession of faith, holds that trust in the soul, belief in the heart and faith in the mind, are all that is needed to lead an honorable, loving and fulfilled life. The Celtic conception of the soul encompasses far more than we traditionally think of today. The Celtic belief of the soul exists within and outside the individual; it is manifest in the trees, the rocks, the waters and the Sun. The relationship between humans and the world around them is intertwined. The soul is inextricably tied to the universal spirit of the Earth. In marriage, your souls will join together so that your strengths shall be twice as great and your hardships will be only half as hard. As you share the ale/wine from this wedding cup let it remind you to trust in your soul which is the universal spirit. Trust in its strength and it will strengthen the bond between you. [Minister pours the wine or ale into the cup and hands it to the bride, who takes a sip and hands it to the groom who takes a sip, and hands it back to the minister.] [Minister then holds up the silk rope.] Your open hands placed over one another represent your hearts, the silk rope represents the belief which binds them together. Belief in your heart is a testament to the power of love and compassion. Belief in the heart is the constant desire to put your spouse before you in every way, to act mindful and to allow love and patience to prevail. Belief in your heart will always guide your marriage and allow the power of love to grow, multiply and strengthen. At times, your souls may drift apart, but the belief in your heart will act as a silk tether, which will keep you together. [Minister then binds together their hands by wrapping the silk rope around them.] Having faith in your mind is the last concept of the Celtic trinity. May each of you maintain your independence of mind, respecting each others thoughts and trying to learn from one an another. May positive thoughts always guide you. These candles represent the light that burns away the darkness of ignorance. May you always strive to keep your mind bright, sharp and uncluttered. Your mindfulness will add joy and ease to your marriage. [Minister then lights the candles. Then he places his hand over the bound hands of the couple and asks them to recite the following:] GROOM: I (name), do take (bride) for my wife and vow to be mindful in our journey together, to love her and to cherish her, to trust in the universal soul, to have belief in my heart and faith in my mind. From this day forward our souls will be as one. BRIDE: I (name), do take (groom) for my husband and vow to be mindful in our journey together, to love him and cherish him, to trust in the universal soul, to have belief in my heart and faith in my mind. From this day forward our souls will be as one. [Minister holds up a the branch.] To finalize the marriage between both of you, it is the tradition to jump over a branch together, which represents the transition into a new existence where you are committed to each other and to a life of growth and love. As a final symbol in the ceremony, hold each others hands and jump over the branch into your new life together. [Couple jumps over the branch.] By the power vested in me by the state of (name of state) I know declare you to be husband and wife. You may kiss to seal the bond of matrimony. Some excellent references on Celtic traditions and Irish history include: How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill Celtic Myths and Legends by T.W. Rolleston Gods and Heroes of the Celts by Marie-Louise Sjoestedt Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom by Caitlin & John Matthews You can find these books by visiting amazon.com. For more information about the Celtic fiana, forming a Celtic Reformist group, or for information on Celtic wedding ceremonies, e-mail us. For a brief history of Ireland and the Celts, click here.