Rituals and Festivals
Rituals and Festivals were a large and important aspect of religious life for the people of the Celtic Religion. The rituals and festivals of the Celtic religion brought people together, followed the Celtic calendar, had a large connection with the natural world and were ceremonies of celebration or done as a religious rite.
Festivals
Imbolc
Imbolc is the Celtic festival marking the beginning of spring and is held most commonly on Febuary 1st. Imbolc was a time for divination, celebration and the honoring of the Goddess Brigid.
Beltaine
Beltaine, held on the 1st of May is a festival for the celebration of the beginning of Summer and the end of the dark part of the year. Beltaine is associated with the moving of cattle to higher pastures and the start of new projects.
Lughnasa
Lughnasa celebrated on the 1st August marks the beginning of the harvest season and is celebrated with offering of first fruit, feasting, weddings, fairs and athletic contests. This festival is closely associated with the Celtic god Lug.
Samhain
Samhain festival marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter and the darker half of the year. It is celebrated from the sunset of October 1st to the Sunset of November 1st. Samhain marks the end of one year and the birth of another.
Rituals
Coming of Age Ritual
The Celtic coming of age festival was an extremely important life event for young Celts and included embarking on a quest that was believed to evoke and draw on the power of a god or goddess in the transition of child to adult. The coming of age ritual was an essential practice in the process of becoming a warrior. This rite was usually set for when the young man or woman was to turn 17 or 18. A main focus in the coming of age ceremony is reminding each young person of the importance of their Celtic heritage and their responsibility to their culture, the Gods, respect to their elders and to protecting Nature and not harming any living creature.
Wedding Ritual
Weddings are one of the most important of rituals of Celtic life. The essential ritual in Celtic Weddings is the handfasting ceremony The handfasting ceremony involves 13 ribbons, each with their own symbolic meaning. The hand fasting ritual is a physical bond which unites a man and a woman when getting married. In ancient Celtic tradition this practice would of been performed by the Druids. The 13 ribbons are tried around the couples wrists and units them physically, but also spiritually under the gods.
Festivals
Imbolc
Imbolc is the Celtic festival marking the beginning of spring and is held most commonly on Febuary 1st. Imbolc was a time for divination, celebration and the honoring of the Goddess Brigid.
Beltaine
Beltaine, held on the 1st of May is a festival for the celebration of the beginning of Summer and the end of the dark part of the year. Beltaine is associated with the moving of cattle to higher pastures and the start of new projects.
Lughnasa
Lughnasa celebrated on the 1st August marks the beginning of the harvest season and is celebrated with offering of first fruit, feasting, weddings, fairs and athletic contests. This festival is closely associated with the Celtic god Lug.
Samhain
Samhain festival marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter and the darker half of the year. It is celebrated from the sunset of October 1st to the Sunset of November 1st. Samhain marks the end of one year and the birth of another.
Rituals
Coming of Age Ritual
The Celtic coming of age festival was an extremely important life event for young Celts and included embarking on a quest that was believed to evoke and draw on the power of a god or goddess in the transition of child to adult. The coming of age ritual was an essential practice in the process of becoming a warrior. This rite was usually set for when the young man or woman was to turn 17 or 18. A main focus in the coming of age ceremony is reminding each young person of the importance of their Celtic heritage and their responsibility to their culture, the Gods, respect to their elders and to protecting Nature and not harming any living creature.
Wedding Ritual
Weddings are one of the most important of rituals of Celtic life. The essential ritual in Celtic Weddings is the handfasting ceremony The handfasting ceremony involves 13 ribbons, each with their own symbolic meaning. The hand fasting ritual is a physical bond which unites a man and a woman when getting married. In ancient Celtic tradition this practice would of been performed by the Druids. The 13 ribbons are tried around the couples wrists and units them physically, but also spiritually under the gods.