The Celtics were a group of people who have mysteriously appeared in Central Europe in Central Europe during 1200 B.C.E. Historically they invaded many countries of Europe such as Northern Italy, Macedonia, Rome and Delphi allowed their population to spread throughout Europe. Despite their rich history many Celtics did not know their origin story and how they were where they were. As a result they made many polytheistic gods who were all seen as very crucial. This was later changed during the era of Christianity. All the gods of the Celtics lost their status as gods and were only seen as wizards and witches in myths. Despite this in the past the Celts had a belief that they were invaded by many supernatural people and creatures in different waves, who all have each contributed something to their culture and society. One of the most important gods to the Celtic people was Lug who was associated with creation of the arts,culture, sports, and the sun. The Celts gave lugh a festival every summer named Lughnasa. They also valued many of their other gods such as the Tuatha de Kannan who were thought to be the original gods of Ireland, Patholan and his people, Nemed and his four women, and finally the Firbolg who evolved into the modern pre-Celtic people of Ireland.
Little to none is known is about the myth of the first invaders according to the celtics. According to the Christian redactors of Celtic Tales the first invaders of the Celtic Land began with Noah’s granddaughter Cesair and her husband before the time of the great flood who lived in the land with other people. Cesair’s husband was the only one who was believed to survive the flood. The land was then invaded by Partholon and his people who were credited with creating the social customs and traditions of the Celtic people. According to the Celts Partholon came from the middle east and was a descendant of Noah.. Partholon and his people were also credited with protecting the Celtic land. They constantly fought the evil and violent one-legged, one-armed demons called Fomorians who tried to come from underground/undersea and tried to settle on the Celtic Land. Sadly Partholon the Partholonians were soon wiped out by a mysterious plague.
According to Celtic myths after the Partholonians were all dead a man named Nemed was said to settle on the land with his 4 women. Nemed and his four women developed developed traditions, and arts and crafts on the empty land. He originated a new group of people known as Nemedians. They were also constantly at war with the Fomorians to prevent them from settling into their land. Nemed was killed in the battle, and his people were mistreated and abused by the Fomorians. They revolted and emigrated to other places outside of ireland. Some versions of the same tale say that a group descending from the Nemedians called the Firbolg returned to Ireland. They were seen as the first representatives of the pre-Celtic people and have been said to divide Ireland into fifths and establish royalty and a leader in Ireland. The Firbolg era was peaceful and wealthy.
The fifth invaders were known as the Tuatha De Kannan who are the closest beings to the modern Irish people. The Tuatha arrived at Ireland and finally were the first to defeat the Firbolg. During the battle their king Nuada was physically weakened. The Fomorians once again returned to Ireland. Nuada could find no one to replace him, he was forced to return to the throne but soon found a man named Lugh to pass his powers onto. Lugh was brave and courageous and permanently defeated the evils in Ireland such as the Fomorians and Balor (another group that they had started war with) .
The seasons all represented different things in Celtic culture. They had a seasonal view that the power of life, sunlight and growth from the winter forces of darkness, evil and death. Due to the importance of the summer season and the sun in Celtic culture , which the god Lugh was responsible for, the Celts created an August festival named Lughnasa. The Celts saw the festival Lughnasa as a time of festivity and grouping. Lughnasa was honored during this day for being a warrior, hero, and king. Lugh was also responsible for the sunlight that allowed the harvest season to provide food for the rest of Ireland.
References
- Leeming, David A. “Irish Creation Myth.” World Geography: Understanding a Changing World, ABC-CLIO, 2018, worldgeography.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/2148543. Accessed 16 Oct. 2018.
- Lysaght, Patricia. “Lugnasa.” World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, ABC-CLIO, 2018, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1703025. Accessed 16 Oct. 2018.
- Taylor, Richard P. “Tuatha De Danann.” World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, ABC-CLIO, 2018, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1455343. Accessed 16 Oct. 2018.
- “Lugh.” Lugh, Celtic Sun God – Windows to the Universe, www.windows2universe.org/mythology/lugh.html. Accessed 17 Oct 2018.