Chapter 1
The world of the Druids
Chapter 2
The wheel of the year
Chapter 3
Gods, goddesses, and the Otherworld
Chapter 4
Sacred waters and rich offerings
YOUR GOAL
Master of Beliefs of the ancient Celts
Ch 2 · The wheel of the year
renaissanceman The Wheel of the Year
The Wheel of the Year, it turns around, Old traditions on new ground. From Celtic fires to solar light, Nature's rhythm, day and night.
renaissanceman Beltane was a vibrant spring festival centered around purification, protection, and driving cattle through sacred bonfires.
renaissanceman Samhain marked the Celtic New Year, a time when the boundary between our world and the spirit world dissolved.
BETA
renaissanceman Spin the seasonal wheel to discover how ancient Celts celebrated their sacred rituals.
Fun Fact
Celtic calendar: The ancient Coligny calendar divided each month into a light and dark half, starting months at the full moon.
Glossary
samhain (noun)
An ancient Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Ancient druids lit communal bonfires on October 31st to welcome the dark half of the annual cycle.
An ancient Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Ancient druids lit communal bonfires on October 31st to welcome the dark half of the annual cycle.
Gossip
Which ancient Celtic festival sounds like the most fun to celebrate today?
Quiz
In which country was the famous Coligny bronze calendar discovered in 1897?
Quiz
Which Celtic festival, celebrated around November 1st, is the historical ancestor of modern Halloween?
Quiz
Which Celtic goddess, later adopted as a Christian saint, is celebrated during the spring festival of Imbolc?
Quiz
What hand-crafted object did Celtic families hang over doorways during Imbolc to protect their homes?
Quiz
What material was used to make the famous Coligny calendar, which tracks a five-year astronomical cycle?
Quiz
On what date did the ancient Celtic celebration of Beltane traditionally begin?
Quiz
Why did the ancient Celts drive their cattle between two large bonfires during Beltane?
Quiz
What does the word 'Imbolc' literally translate to in Old Irish, referring to the breeding season of sheep?