Origins of Hallowe’en Celtic Samhain and Catholic Day of the Dead

Who Were the Celts? The Celts were the Iron Age (ca BC until the Roman conquest in 52 BC) inhabitants of Europe, whose homeland was Eurasia. The Celts were the Iron Age (ca BC until the Roman conquest in 52 BC) inhabitants of Europe, whose homeland was Eurasia. Celts shared a linguistic tradition, a similar suite of economic skills (horse and cattle raising, farming, gardening, hunting & fishing), a variety of political formations that valued democracy, and a religious tradition with deep roots in European prehistory. Celts shared a linguistic tradition, a similar suite of economic skills (horse and cattle raising, farming, gardening, hunting & fishing), a variety of political formations that valued democracy, and a religious tradition with deep roots in European prehistory.

Geographical Extent of Indo- European Peoples Map of Indo-European migrations, 4000 to 1000 BC. The purple area corresponds to the assumed homeland. The red area corresponds to the area probably settled by Indo-European-speaking peoples up to ca BC, and The orange area was settled by 1000 BC. Indo-European Languages

Geographical Extent of Celtic Peoples

Celtic Social Structure Several social classes including farmers, merchants, artisans, administrators, clergy Several social classes including farmers, merchants, artisans, administrators, clergy An aristocracy of two orders: knights (equites) and others with special talents who governed and did not take up arms An aristocracy of two orders: knights (equites) and others with special talents who governed and did not take up arms These particularly gifted people were then educated to take up one of three roles: These particularly gifted people were then educated to take up one of three roles: Bards composed and chanted hymns and were ‘diplomats’ who collected and carried information Bards composed and chanted hymns and were ‘diplomats’ who collected and carried information Vates or Prophets gave sacrifices, studied nature in an effort to presage, and served as local ‘clerics’ Vates or Prophets gave sacrifices, studied nature in an effort to presage, and served as local ‘clerics’ Druids were moral philosophers and the embodiment of justice in the Celtic community, ‘judges’ Druids were moral philosophers and the embodiment of justice in the Celtic community, ‘judges’

Druids in Popular Culture

Celts were Great Warriors Women fought alongside men Celts sold carbon steel weapons to the Romans beginning ca. 300 BC Celtic warriors believed in the afterlife and did not fear for their lives Celts, naked and painted blue, were fierce in battle

Celtic Styles and Motifs Endure after defeat by the Romans and the Appearance of Christianity Syncretism is the attempt to reconcile disparate, even opposing, beliefs and to meld practices of various schools of thought. It is especially associated with the attempt to merge several originally discrete traditions, especially in religion, and thus assert an underlying unity.

Druids and the Imagination

Celtic Calendar: The Wheel of the Year Two divisions, each of four equal quarters, marked the pastoral and agricultural year Coligny calendar Samhain marks the Celtic New Year and entry into the year’s dark half. It is the time for taking stock and for honoring the year’s dead. At midnight the Crack Between the Worlds opens and the souls of the old year’s dead pass through. In Catholic tradition, the following Day of the Dead is marked by family feasting on the graves of the departed.

Gaulish Celtic Polities

The Druids’Annual Gathering In the Land of the Carnutes “These assemble at a fixed period of the year in a consecrated place in the territories of the Carnutes, which is reckoned the central region of the whole of Gaul. Hither all, who have disputes, assemble from every part, and submit to their decrees and determinations.” Julius Caesar DBG 6.13

Chartres Cathedral

The Maze in Chartres Cathedral

The Celtic Severed Head Cult Roqueperteuse, southern France “Janus” heads look toward the worlds of the living and the dead

Watch Out! The Past is in the Present