The Celtic way
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Celtic ways: the music the beliefs the history! Explore the Celtish Culture
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Members: 190
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The name Celt originated with the ancient Greeks, who called the barbarian peoples of central Europe Keltoi. The Celts were a broad cultural-linguistic group. The area where they lived a constantly changing collection of various tribal 'nations.'
The Celts were never 'one people' of an 'empire' ruled by one government. Rather a collective of shifting tribes.
The ancestors of the Celts were the people of the Urnfield culture, called such because they buried their dead in cremation urns in flat ground. Between 1200 and 700 BC, they spread west from their eastern European homeland into the areas of modern day Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and France. Here is where their culture started to develop into what today would be a recognizably Celtic form.
The earliest stage of Celtic culture to develop is what is known as the Hallstatt, after a village in the Austrian Salzkammergut where archeologists discovered important artifacts. At hallstatt and other places with the 'hall' (salt) name - Hallein, Helle, Schwabisch Hall - the Celts' wealth was based upon salt extraction and sale.
The technology of iron, too, was embraced by innovative Celtic blacksmiths, who produced the best metal in Europe, that was in great demand outside Celtic Areas. An important two-way trade developed between the Celts and the Greeks, both in their homeland, and their colonies inwhat is now southern France.
By the seventh century BC, the Hallstatt people had become prosperous in the salt and iron businesses. In around 650 BC, the Celts began to re-exchange raids with the Greeks and Etruscans, elements of whose culture they adopted.
By adding and adapting Graeco-Etruscan elements to the Hallstatt culture, the characteristically Celtic style of art came into being. As a result of this, in northeastern France, Switzerland, and the middle Rhine, a new stage of Celtic development took place.
Archeologists call it the early La Tene period, after the definitive artifacts found at La Tene, on Lake Neuchatel in Switzerland.
During the Classical period of Greece and Rome, Celtic culture was predominant north of the Alps. Celtic technicians of the La Tene period were technically superior to their Greek and Roman counterparts. Their superior weaponry, including a new type of sword, chain mail, and chariots, enabled the Celts to mount miliatary expiditions against neighboring tribes and nations, including the Greeks and Romans.
Celtic fighting men had such a good reputation that they were in great demand as mercenareis. The warrior culture was at the heart of Celtic society, as the heroic sagas of ancient Ireland record.
Discussion Forum
Let's get a conversation rolling, shall we?
Started by Clearwater Banchee. Last reply by Dr. Gareth Pengwerin Jul 7, 2012. 39 Replies 3 Likes
Hello; I'm not shy by any means so I don't mind being the first.. but I'd like to know how people incorporate the celtic culture into their practice. Perhaps more about the Celtic Gods/Goddesses... I would love to learn more about them since I…Continue
Pantheons
Started by Clearwater Banchee. Last reply by James Alexander Jul 7, 2012. 3 Replies 1 Like
Well, in the previous discussion I was introduced to quite a pantheon. I have a comment and another question to get the ball rolling... 1) Thanks to everyone who participated in the last discussion and are still participating! I kinda/sorta knew…Continue
Mythological History
Started by Kelyla na Fili. Last reply by The Celtic Myth Podshow Jun 5, 2012. 3 Replies 2 Likes
A must for Celts.
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Comment Wall
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Comment by Khielam Nasham on May 2, 2013 at 5:02pm -
Nice to see another member of Clan Lamont.
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Comment by Vince Young on May 2, 2013 at 3:45pm -
I have always felt the call of nature from my earliest memories down. During my childhood I developed an affinity for books and movies involving Druids and Celtic Paganism, which was (to me) explained later on. As a child I never knew my ancestry and was always told we were most likely English or a mixture of different backgrounds and as I grew I decided to research my heritage myself rather than rely on others' answers. In my research I discovered that I am almost pure blood Scots-Irish, to me this explained my interest in Druidism and nature in general especially since I was able to trace my ancestry back to 4th century Scotland. I found out that my family, Clan Lamont, was descended from the frist High King. All of this is the reason I wound up on here and decided to join this group. I pray that I will be able to strengthen my knowledge and make some new friends. Blessings to all!
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Comment by Siusaidh Silvernail on March 19, 2013 at 10:58am -
I'm a womyn without a country - a Celt with whose soul resides in another culture. I've tried and tried and tried to be a witch and learn Wiccan but that is not me. My heart and soul lie in the green nature of Mother Earth. I'm not overly interested in magic. I'm interested in the creatures and the flora and fertility and the ways of the earth and the stars. Long have I loved the trees - I grew up camping. I spent a year trying to work into ADF but it was not to be and this town's attempts at a grove dissipated. During this time I found my birth mother and the graves of my birth ancestors which has built this steel foundation in me. I am also of Clan Donald and many times great great-grandfathers and grandmothers are kings and queens and knights and Knights Templar and Saints. John the Red Comyn is my 22nd great-grandfather, St. Margaret of Scotland a 24th great-grandmother, Malcolm I King of the Scots my 29th great-grandfather. This is a lineage of my mother's mother's line. My mother's father's line was pure British until my grandfather married the Scots-Irish lass. And my 2nd great-grandmother was 8 years old when she and her family emigrated from Dublin, arriving in NY Harbor on 3/26/1849, this my bio mother's mother's mother's mother. All this I have found, and the family has verified. Per geni.com, however accurate, Bleuddyd King of the Druids is your 68th great grandfather and Queen Icemaus is your 70th great grandmother (I have yet to figure out who she is). I couldn't feel more Celtic and desire to learn a Celtic path of some sort. I feel I belong on such a path. I just don't feel it's something I can do alone. I try to celebrate pagan/celtic holidays on my own but it just isn't the same so I gave up. Blessed be and Ostara blessings all.
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Comment by Alysha McArthur on March 17, 2013 at 8:52am -
I am very much into the celtic culture. I have a small percentige of Irish decent, from what clan I know not, but it seems to be a more prominent part of my being. I was wondering if any one could tell me more about Drudry. I would like to practice, unfortunatly I have kinda hit a dead end. If any one could direct me to a grove or give me any information on how to start I would really apreciate it. Thanks :) Blessed be
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Comment by Kalimadran on March 9, 2013 at 7:09pm -
hello im one of few unconquered celts left in the world im a pure blood Scottish Highlander of clan McDonald and a practicing Druid and have been my entire life I am fluent in the Ogham and Scottish Gaelic. If you have any questions of me feel free to ask if I dont know the anwser ill know were to find it or at least try to point you in the right direction. Nice to meet u all.
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Comment by Evening- Star on November 21, 2012 at 2:51am -
Goodmorning xx
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Comment by Denis Buckley-Rothwell on July 2, 2012 at 4:43am -
Michael Tsarion: The Irish Origins Of Civilisation. Denied History...
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Comment by The Celtic Myth Podshow on June 5, 2012 at 3:34am -
Would you like the chance to dig with the Archaeologists for a day at the amazing archaeological site Flag Fen in England? If so, have a listen to http://bit.ly/KcdjlN
You can find more information on fascinating flag fen at http://www.vivacity-peterborough.com/museums-and-heritage/flag-fen/
My personal feeling is that this site was used for healing and worship!
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Comment by The Celtic Myth Podshow on April 29, 2012 at 12:30pm
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Hello We just wanted to pop in and say Hi to everyone. Do pop a long and look at our page. We produce a podcast that tells stories from Celtic Mythology. Our last podcast was an interview to promote a new film called The Spirit Of Albion the Movie.
We started the podcast on Imbolc 2008, and we told stories from the Irish Mythological Cycle..as we had tried to read the stories ourselves and had found them dry, and the Victorian English was hard to read and understand. These podcast episodes are all available free on iTunes or from our website. We also produce special episodes around the fire festivals and seasons of the year, where we discuss celtic traditions, read excepts from modern stories and play music from the pagan/celtic community, In our last story Episode SP30 We have started to tell the stories from the Welsh Mabinogion. Sorry for such a long intro... we are really looking forward to getting to know people here. Please feel free to ask questions or add us a friend. Love & Beltane Blessings Ruthie & Gary x
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Comment by Lady Aletria on April 29, 2012 at 12:03pm -
Hello everyone... I'm Allie
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