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Eclectic

Category: Celtic Fire Festivals (page 1 of 1)

July 30, 2020 / 0 Comments

Bealteine (pronounced “bahl-chayna”)

Bealteine celebrates the start of summer. The term itself refers to shimmering fire (like a rising sun reflecting on a shimmering lake). This celebration takes place out of doors during the daytime. It is a time for action, a time to get going, a time to take care of business. It is also a fertility celebration. In the past, it involved a rite of passage for men. At the right time, they were armed.

An interesting aspect of this festival was a rule that anyone could say anything they liked to anyone else without fear of reprisal. This may not seem all that unusual to Americans who are used to doing this any time. However, in the days of serfs/masters, it was highly unusual.

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July 29, 2020 / 0 Comments

Imbolg (pronounced “eem-bohl-uck”)

Imbolg differs from the other Celtic Fire Festivals (Samhain, Bealteine, and Lughnasadh) because the entire group does not celebrate it. It is a festival for the family and takes place at home. It is a time to think about the start of spring, a time to be with family, and a time to decide how to implement the things decided on during Samhain (the end of summer festival and a time for self-reflection). This festival is unique in that it is the only festival that is prepared by women.

St. Brigid is an integral part of this festival. To that end, a doll representing Brigid is constructed. When the house is ready, the doll is taken outside and Brigid called. Subsequently, the doll is brought into the house and represents Bridget at the festivities.

Another aspect of this festival has to do with predicting the onset of spring. In Scotland, they search to see if snakes are out and about. If so, an early spring is predicted (in Ireland they look for hedgehogs…these are both similar to Groundhog day in the United States).

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July 28, 2020 / 0 Comments

Lughnasadh (pronounced “loo-nassah”)

Lughnasadh is a harvest festival. It is connected to one of the few Pan-Celtic Gods, Lugh. It literally means Lugh’s betrothal feast. The festival marks the end of summer and the start of the dying season. It is celebrated by the entire group, outside, and lasts overnight. It is a time to reap the rewards of the summer, to acknowledge changes, and get ready for the dark season. It was considered to be the dying season because animals that could not be fed over the winter were slaughtered.

The rituals associated with Lugh are interesting. To this day, a doll holding a spear is prepared and placed near the festivities. Lugh’s betrothal is with Mother Earth. To complete the betrothal Lugh must return to the earth. Thus, he is symbolically killed by the men at the festival (throwing spears until the doll is knocked to the earth). It must be done to ensure a good harvest the following year.

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July 27, 2020 / 0 Comments

Samhain (pronounced “sow in”)

Samhain is celebrated by Celts at the end of summer. It marks the end of summer and the beginning of the new year. It is/was a time to wrap up summer activities and get ready for winter. Samhain is celebrated by the entire group (versus Imbolog which is celebrated in family groups), out of doors, and lasts the entire night.

It is a time for inner reflection and a time to square yourself away. This festival has been adopted by other western cultures and is generally called Halloween. There is minimal connection between Samhain and Halloween these days. Halloween is somewhat frivolous while Samhain is serious and not to be taken lightly…though all involved enjoy themselves. Most importantly, Halloween has come to rest on the premise of a devil or evil. Celts do/did not believe in devils and/or evil spirits. Thus, Samhain is at once more and less serious than Halloween. For Celts, it is/was the time of the “in-between”. That is, a change from the time of light to the time of dark. It was/is thought that spirits could move easily from one realm to the other. These were/are not evil spirits but ancestors returning to visit loved ones.

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