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CELTIC HOLIDAYS
A large number of festivals
celebrated in the Western world can be attributed to the
ancient traditions of the Celts. The festival of Halloween, on
October 31st, stemmed from the Celtic
holiday of Samhain, the last day of the Celtic year in which
the boundaries between the world of the living and the dead
were at their closest.
Celtic rituals were spectacular events. They often involved
the building of immense fires at sacred hilltops, where they
could be close to the gods. Standing stones and columns of
wood were often erected at the ritual ground in specific
patterns. The rituals themselves consisted of wild, sacred
dance, songs and chants. Offerings were frequently made,
sometimes in the form of animal sacrifices. The early Celts
even practiced human sacrifice to make the lands fertile, but
as time passed this tradition was replaced by the performances
of magical spells and preaching of Druids and poets. |
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The Celtic people observed 8 major festivals that were called
Sabbats. The four "Greater Sabbats" or festivals are
called Samhain, Beltana, Lughnasadh, and Imbolc. And the
Lesser Sabbats were the Winter Solstice, Vernal Equinox,
Autumnal Equinox, and Summer Solstice.
The Celts also celebrated Esbats, which were the 13
lunar festivals held throughout the year, celebrated at the
time of the full moon.
GREATER SABBATS
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BELTANA (BEALTAINE): Festival of fire. Held on May
1st. |
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IMBOLC (OIMELECH): A key festival in the Pagan
calendar. |
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LUGHNASADH (LUGNASAD): Celebrated the light at its
zenith on August 1st. |
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SAMHAIN: Marked the cycle of seasons in the
Druid religion.
Samhain traditionally began at the sundown of
October 31st and extended into the following day.
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LESSER SABBATS
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AUTUMNAL EQUINOX: |
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SUMMER SOLSTICE: |
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VERNAL EQUINOX: |
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WINTER SOLSTICE: |
FULL MOON ESBATS
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DARK MOON ESBATS
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JANUARY - WOLF MOON |
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JANUARY - QUIET MOON |
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FEBRUARY - STORM MOON |
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FEBRUARY - HUNGER MOON |
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MARCH - PLOW MOON |
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MARCH - SEED MOON |
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APRIL - BUDDING MOON |
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APRIL - PLANTING MOON |
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MAY - MOTHER'S MOON |
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MAY - NINTH MOON |
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JUNE - MEAD MOON |
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JUNE - STRAWBERRY MOON |
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JULY - CLAIMING MOON |
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JULY - BLESSING MOON |
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AUGUST - DISPUTE MOON |
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AUGUST - HARVEST MOON |
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SEPTEMBER - WINE MOON |
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SEPTEMBER - SINGING MOON |
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OCTOBER - BLOOD MOON |
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OCTOBER - FALLING LEAF MOON |
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NOVEMBER - MOURNING MOON |
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NOVEMBER - DEAD MOON |
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DECEMBER - OAK MOON |
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DECEMBER - SNOW MOON |
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BLUE MOON |
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Spring passes and one remembers
one's innocence
Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance
Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence
Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.
Yoko Ono, Season of Glass
