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Post by Joanna on Dec 18, 2016 14:58:42 GMT -5
The Celtic Roots of Christmas
The roots of the Christmas traditions that we recognize today can be traced back to pre-Christian celebrations of the winter solstice, the twice yearly event when the sun appears to be at its highest or lowest point above the horizon. In the northern hemisphere the winter solstice usually occurs between December 20 and 23. This year, it is the 21st.
The winter solstice was one of the most significant times of the year to the ancient Celts. The Neolithic monuments of Newgrange in Éire, Ireland; Maes Howe in Orkney, Scotland, and Bryn Celli Ddu in Ynys Môn, Wales; are examples of burial chambers scattered throughout the Celtic nations constructed to capture the full impact of the sun’s rays during the solstices.
Druids, the priestly class in ancient Celtic society, celebrated Yule at the time of the winter solstice. It was on this day that they ceremonially gathered mistletoe from oak trees, a practice described in the writings of Roman historian Pliny the Elder (Gauis Plinius Secundus AD 23 – August 25, AD 79).
The name “Christmas” is from the Mass of Christ (Christ-Mass). The actual date of the birth of Jesus is not mentioned in the Bible. The spread of Christianity during the first millennium (January 1 AD to December 1000 AD of the Julian calendar) was aided by the new religion adapting the ceremonies and traditions of the existing religions. At times the early Christians also adopted existing deities to ease the transition from old beliefs to new ones, as is thought to be the case with Brigid, the Celtic fertility goddess who became known to Christians as Saint Brigid.
So when celebrating Christmas, the traditional trappings that go with this festive season have roots far back to Celtic history: the mistletoe gathered by the Druids for its magical and health-giving properties; the Yule log burnt by the Celts to counter the darkness of midwinter when they believed the sun stood still for 12 days and to bring good luck; the holly and ivy, evergreens the Celts considered important in keeping evil spirits at bay; and the tree decorated with symbols of solar objects and gifts to Celtic gods and goddesses.
Source: Alastair Kneale, Transceltic, December 15, 2016.
See also:
“Celtic Winter Holiday Traditions”: whatliesbeyond.boards.net/thread/4796/celtic-winter-holiday-traditions
“Dark Night of the Mari Lwyd (Grey Mare)”: whatliesbeyond.boards.net/thread/4781/dark-night-mari-lwyd-grey
“Wiccans/Pagans Celebrate Winter Solstice”: whatliesbeyond.boards.net/thread/3023/wiccans-pagans-celebrate-winter-solstice
“Yule: Similar but Different”: whatliesbeyond.boards.net/thread/825/yule-similar-different
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Post by Kate on Dec 18, 2018 17:39:01 GMT -5
Is anyone planning a Celtic Midwinter or Christmas celebration?
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Post by madeline on Dec 18, 2018 22:14:59 GMT -5
I'm having a dinner party the night of the Winter Solstice. I'm using Yule logs as the centerpiece. You take small logs, about 18 inches long, have someone saw them in half length-wise, so they'll lie flat, and cut 3 holes for candles in the top of each one. Then you spread holly and pine around them and light the candles. They're very festive, especially on a red tablecloth, and the pine gives everything a nice smell.
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Post by kitty on Dec 26, 2022 1:22:25 GMT -5
This says the Celts burnt the Yule log to counter the darkness of winter, but I saw an article today that said the Yule log started with the Vikings. I'm not very good at European history, but weren't the Celts already gone by the time of the Vikings?
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Post by JoannaL on Dec 26, 2022 12:27:02 GMT -5
This says the Celts burnt the Yule log to counter the darkness of winter, but I saw an article today that said the Yule log started with the Vikings. I'm not very good at European history, but weren't the Celts already gone by the time of the Vikings? |
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Post by kitty on Dec 26, 2022 15:27:25 GMT -5
Over the past few decades, some neopagan groups have romanticized the Celts or Vikings and attributed all sorts of practices to them. No one can say unequivocally that the Yule log originated with either when there’s a possibility it was a carryover from the Bronze or Neolithic Age. |
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Post by jane on Dec 27, 2022 18:48:47 GMT -5
Thanks, that makes sense. Burning a log to welcome the return of the sun could have been a practice going back hundreds, or maybe even thousands of years before the Celts or Vikings and they just continued the practice. |
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Post by serena on Dec 19, 2023 20:39:15 GMT -5
Are there any recordings, such as by the Romans, of how the Celts celebrated Yule, or is it just some neo-pagans guessing how they celebrated?
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Post by JoannaL on Dec 20, 2023 13:55:09 GMT -5
Are there any recordings, such as by the Romans, of how the Celts celebrated Yule, or is it just some neo-pagans guessing how they celebrated? |
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