Society & Culture
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. You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia. Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts. Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.