Category: Celtic
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Banshee Legends—Keen on Death
My fascination with Celtic mythology began with the 1959 movie Darby O’Gill and the Little People. It wasn’t O’Gill’s obsession with the mischievous leprechauns that caught my attention. Nor was it the handsome Sean Connery, or even the pretty young girl who fell over a cliff—and for him. It wasn’t even the headless horseman who…
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Frightful Fantasies of Irish Faeries
From banshees to vampires, Irish mythology is dominated by frightful faeries who comprise the mythology of both ancient and contemporary Ireland. Understanding Irish mythology begins with understanding the Celts and pre-Celts who inhabited the isolated island. By the time the Celts (known as Milesians) arrived in Ireland between 500 and 300 BC from Central Europe,…
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The Celtic Myth of the Twin Kings
Come to think of it, maybe the reason for the seasons is sibling rivalry When the winter solstice arrives on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 10:03 a.m., EST, it will be recognized as the shortest day of the year. To the ancient Celts, however, it was a celebration of hope, for it was the moment…
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Reading the Reeds
The Celtic tree for October 28 to November 24 is the reed. Represented by the letter N, ngetal (pronounced nyettle) is the 13th letter of the Ogham alphabet. It symbolizes wisdom, adaptability, and protection. Following the lunar cycle of 28 days, the Celtic Tree Calendar tracks the year in terms of trees, not months, and…
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The Vine that Grows on You
Correction: The Ogham symbol associated with the period from September 2 – 29 is Muin, the eleventh letter of the Ogham alphabet. Gort is associated with the Ivy Month, September 30 through October 27. Muin represents the vine, which produces grapes, and in turn, wine. The vine is connected to prophecy and truthful speaking–because typically,…
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Pump Up Your Life Force with Hazel
With the apex of summer comes Coll, the Irish name of the ninth letter of the Ogham alphabet. Represented by the rune ᚉ, which means “hazel tree” or “inner life force,” Coll spans August 5 to September 1 in the Celtic Tree Calendar. Known as “The Knowledge Keeper,” the hazel was associated with inspiration, wisdom,…
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Bold and Resilient, Birch Symbolizes Renewal
Birch, the first lunar month in the Celtic Tree Calendar, coincides with the new growth cycle that begins with first light after the winter solstice. Spanning the days between December 24 and January 20, the month is dedicated to renewal and recovery. The birch is singularly suited for that distinction. Despite its elegant, pendulous branches,…
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Samhain—Enduring Night of the Living Dead
With its ghouls, jack-o-lanterns, and trick-or-treaters shouting BOO, Halloween is the unadulterated descendent of Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival of the dead. Pronounced SOW (rhymes with cow) –in, the word comes from the Proto-Indo-European root word *semo- (summer), and the Proto-Celtic *samoni- (reunion, assembly). It literally means “an assembly to celebrate the harvest.” The Celts…