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CELTIC YEAR
The Celts measured the Solar year on a wheel, circle or
spiral, all of which symbolize creation and the constant
movement of the universe growth and development. To the
ancients, the Heavens appeared to wheel overhead, turning on
an axis which points to the north polar stars. At the crown of
the axis, a circle of stars revolved about a fixed point, the
Celestial Pole, which was believed to be the location of
Heaven. At the base of the axis was the
Omphalos, the circular altar of the Goddess' temple.
The universe of stars turning on this axis formed a spiral
path, or stairway, on which souls ascended to Heaven.
This Sunwise, clockwise, or deiseal (Gaelic), motion
of the spirals represented the Summer Sun. The continuous
spirals with seemingly no beginning or end signified that as
one cycle ended another began eternal life. The spiral's
never-ending, always expanding, motion also symbolized the
ever- increasing nature of information and knowledge. Many of
these symbols often also appeared in triplicate, a sign of the
divine.
To the Celts, time was circular rather
than linear. This is reflected in their commencing each day,
and each festival, at dusk rather than dawn, a custom
comparable with that of the Jewish Sabbath. It is also
reflected in their year beginning with the festival of
Samhain on 31 October, when nature appears to be dying
down.
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Tellingly, the first month of the Celtic year
is
Samonios, ‘Seed Fall’: in other words, from death and
darkness springs life and light.
Another reason for the importance of night in
the Celts’ reckoning of time lies in their regard for the moon and
the feminine principle which it represents. Certainly there is some
evidence that they observed the solar festivals of solstices and
equinoxes, and especially the summer solstice. It is also true that
the Druids’ most sacred plant, mistletoe, was associated with the
sun. However, the waxing and waning of the moon was of far greater
importance.
The earliest-known Celtic calendar is the
Coligny calendar, now in the Palais des Arts, Lyon. It
dates probably from the 1st century BCE, and is made up of bronze
fragments, once a single huge plate. It is inscribed with Latin
characters, but in Gaulish. It begins each month with the full moon,
and covers a 30-year cycle comprising five cycles of 62 lunar
months, and one of 61. It divides each month into fortnights rather
than weeks, with days designated - from observation - as MAT (good)
or ANM (not good). Each year is divided into thirteen months.
The Coligny calendar achieves a complex
synchronization of the solar and lunar months. Whether it does this
for philosophical or practical reasons, it points to considerable
sophistication. The 13th month, Mid Samonios, was duplicated.
Since months began with a full moon, no consistent dates can be
given.
| Celtic names |
Modern months |
Meaning |
| Samonios |
October/November |
Seed-fall |
| Dumannios |
November/December |
Darkest depths |
| Riuros |
December/January |
Cold-time |
| Anagantios |
January/February |
Stay-home time |
| Ogronios |
February/March |
Ice time |
| Cutios |
March/April |
Windy time |
| Giamonios |
April/May |
Shoots-show |
|
Simivisonios |
May/June |
Bright time |
| Equos |
June/July |
Horse-time |
| Elembiuos |
July/August |
Claim-time |
| Edrinios |
August/September |
Arbitration-time |
| Cantlos |
September/October |
Song-time |
There is an appointed
time for everything.
And there is a time for every event under heaven -
A time to give birth, and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
Ecclesiastes, 3:1-2
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