Festivals CT053

Celtic Tomes

The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911) Chapter 18: Festivals

by J. A. MacCulloch

The Celtic year was not at first regulated by the solstices and equinoxes, but by some method connected with agriculture or with the seasons.

Names Used in this Section

oidhche Samhain

Geimredh

Earrach

Oimelc

Samradh

Beltane

Cét-soman or Cét-samain

Samono-s

Cyntefyn

Foghamar

Lugnasadh

Brontroghain

Tille

Keating

samhanach

Mongfind

Mag-tured

Tuatha Dé Danann

Fomorians

Belenos

M. D'Arbois

belo-te[p]niâ

Belisama

te[p]nos

Beltane carline

cailleach

Professor Pearson

Mannhardt and Dr. Frazer

Cæsar, Strabo, and Diodorus

Irish as Lugnasad, in Gaelic as Lunasdal or Lunasduinn, and in Manx as Laa Luanys

Lugudunum

Goel-aoust, Gul-austus, and Gwyl Awst

Lugh mac Ethlenn

Rennes Dindsenchas

Demeter and Kore

Namnite women

Dionysius Periegetes

S. Gregory of Tours

Berecynthia

Augustodunum

Professor Anwyl to be the goddess Brigindu

Teutonic cult of Nerthus, the Phrygian of Cybele, the Hindu of Bhavani, and the Roman ritual of the Bona Dea.

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

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