Pic: National Geographic

In June 2008, the National Geographic reported that an ancient Dane with Arabian genes is part of a DNA study that suggests Scandinavians of 2,000 years ago were more genetically diverse than today. Researchers say the Iron Age man may have been a soldier serving on the Roman Empire’s northern frontier or a descendant of female slaves transported from the Middle East.

The Roman Empire at the time stretched as far as the Middle East, while Roman legions were based as far north as the River Elbe in northern Germany.

The study analyzed 18 well-preserved bodies from two burial sites dating from 0 to A.D. 400 in eastern Denmark. The sites were originally excavated some 20 years ago. Continue Reading »

Originally posted 2009-06-07 08:25:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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This is our Christmas wish to you for 2010. It is only a short episode with three pieces of music and a little story, but we thought it important to let you all know where we were with the show, what was and has been going on and that we are still here! We have had so much wonderful support and feedback over the last year that it has made our job of Gary getting better and Ruthie looking after him much easier.

The Episode is available for subscribers on the feed, or you can download it or listen to it from our Episodes page. You can find the Shownotes for this episode in the Shownotes section.

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Female Skull w Hairpin Pic: Nat Geo

An ancient Dane with Arabian genes is part of a DNA study that suggests Scandinavians of 2,000 years ago were more genetically diverse than today reports the National Geographic back in 2008. Researchers say the Iron Age man may have been a soldier serving on the Roman Empire’s northern frontier or a descendant of female slaves transported from the Middle East.

he Roman Empire at the time stretched as far as the Middle East, while Roman legions were based as far north as the River Elbe in northern Germany.

The study analyzed 18 well-preserved bodies from two burial sites dating from 0 to A.D. 400 in eastern Denmark. The sites were originally excavated some 20 years ago.

Mitochondrial DNA, which provides a genetic record of an individual’s maternal ancestry, was taken from teeth by a team led by Linea Melchior of the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Copenhagen.

One skeleton had a type of DNA signature—known as a haplogroup—closely associated with the Arabian Peninsula, according to Melchior.

“It’s especially found among some Bedouin tribes, but it has also been found in the southern part of Europe,” the researcher said.

Iron Age Grave

The skeleton came from Bøgebjerggård, an Iron Age site on the southern part of the island of Sjælland (Zealand).

The bodies likely belonged to poor farmers, the team said.

Other unusual haplogroups were identified, including one representing a prehistoric European lineage which today is found in only about 2 percent of Danes, Melchior said.

Carry on to read the full story on the Nat Geo site.

Originally posted 2010-05-19 12:30:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Just when you think that the 60s TV archives have been completely plundered, Network finds another lost gem – The Owl Service – which is getting a release on 28th April 2008.The Owl Service was the first programme made in colour by Granada and it”s still intact – all eight episodes will be available complete and uncut in this two-disc set. Shot in the Welsh valleys in the summer of 1969, The Owl Service is a teen drama, mixing history, myth, mystery and adventure, as well as the supernatural and class division. To quote the press release:

Alison (Gillian Williams) and her brother Roger (Francis Williams) spend the family summer holiday in a remote cottage in the Welsh countryside. After hearing a scratching noise in the attic, Alison discovers some old dinner plates which have a strange floral pattern on them. When she traces the design onto paper, the flowers turn into owls. What is the connection between the plates, the gardener, the angry housekeeper and the legend of a village magician? Discover the weird power of the valley as the legend begins to unfold…

Extras include an image gallery, an introduction written by KimNewman with additional contributions from Chris Lynch and an archiveinterview with Alan Garner from Celebration. Hopefully we”ll have areview before release date.

Source

The Owl Service is a novel by Alan Garner first published in 1967. It is a contemporary interpretation, which Garner described as an “expression of the myth“, of the story of the mythical Welsh figure of Blodeuwedd, whose story is told in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi.The legend concerns a woman created from flowers by a Welsh wizard. She betrays her husband, Lleu, in favour of another, Gronw or Goronwy, and is turned into an owl as punishment for inducing Gronw to kill Lleu.

Various kinds of discrimination and prejudice pervade the plot. There is the condescending English view of the Welsh and its corollary in the Welsh resentment of English money. There is the class divide,not only between a working class boy and richer children, but between aland-owning family and a businessman’s family. There is the divide between urban Welsh and the Welsh-speaking country people. The boy Gwyn speaks Welsh to the locals to practise for his examinations at school, but his mother does not want him “speaking like a labourer”. Speaking English, Gwyn’s Welsh accent marks him as inferior in English eyes as well. These innate conflicts are part of the author’s device to create a conflict, not out of malice on anyone’s part, but out of the bringing together of mismatched outlooks.

Wiki

Originally posted 2008-03-19 08:01:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

If you were lucky enough to be in Wales on March the first, you would find the country in a festive mood. Every self-respecting man, woman and child would be celebrating St. David’s Day in one way or another. But who was St. David, and why is he so important to the Welsh? And just how is St. David’s Day celebrated in Wales today? Well, Saint David, or Dewi Sant, as he is known in the Welsh language, is the patron saint of Wales. He was a Celtic monk, abbot and bishop, who lived in the sixth century. During his life, he was the archbishop of Wales, and he was one of many early saints who helped to spread Christianity among the pagan Celtic tribes of western Britain.

For details of the life of Dewi, we depend mainly on his biographer, Rhigyfarch. He wrote Buchedd Dewi (the life of David) in the 11th century. Gerallt Gymro (Giraldus Cambrensis), who wrote a book about his travels through Wales in the 12th century, also gives some information about Dewi’s early life. Dewi died in the sixth century, so nearly five hundred years elapsed between his death and the first manuscripts recording his life. As a result, it isn’t clear how much of the history of Dewi’s life is legend rather than fact. Continue Reading »

Originally posted 2009-03-01 18:09:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Authors Christine and Ethan Rose have written an enchanting tale for Young Adults that we’ll all enjoy called Rowan of the Wood. It is a tale of two contending Druids and a young boy caught in the middle, but let’s find out from Christine in a minute. We are very privileged to welcome Christine to our Roundhouse. She is currently doing a virtual blog tour and found time to cross the great water and warm her feet by the roaring fire we’ve got going in the firepit. Let’s warm up some mead and talk to Christine!

Gary:            Hello Christine, welcome to the Celtic Myth Podshow!

Ruthie:        Yes, hi Christine – thank you for taking the time to pop over and see us!

Christine:   Thank you for having me – it’s lovely to be here!

Gary:            We’re really pleased to be able to talk to you and I’m sure our listeners will be fascinated because they don’t know as yet, but we’ve going to be bringing them a section from Rowan on the Show later this year!

Christine:   That’s right! I hope they like it.

Ruthie:        Oh, I’m sure they will. Can you tell us a little about your book, Rowan of the Wood?

Christine:   Rowan of the Wood is the story about two ancient druids, Rowan and Fiana. These powerful wizards were torn apart on their wedding day, Samhain in 592 CE by cruel attackers. Fiana was able to escape into the Otherworld with many from her tribe for protection, but Rowan was trapped on this side of the veil with the attackers. To save his life, he hid inside his magic wand. Fiana dedicated her existence to finding the wand and releasing Rowan from this wooden prison, but she failed time and again. Throughout the centuries, she had to use darker magic to stay alive, ultimately giving up her soul to do so. In the present time, a young boy finds the wand buried in the redwood forest and releases the wizard Rowan, but Rowan just moves from one vessel to another: the young boy, Cullen. He is shocked to learn that 1400 years has passed, and even more surprised to learn that Fiana has somehow survived time and become something evil.

Gary:             Oh, that does sound good – it’s nice to hear about an exciting book for young-uns that deals with Celtic Mythology. Where did you get the inspiration to write a book for young adults? It’s something I would love to do, but wouldn’t have the foggiest where to start!

Christine:    The books both Ethan and I read from our childhood still remain with us in a very special way. Those books paved the way for our reading, and eventually writing, careers. I think it’s an important time; however, Rowan of the Wood is really a crossover novel, appropriate for kids, but also thoroughly enjoyed by adults. It’s a beautiful tale of tragic romance mixed in with Celtic Mythology and a modern day magical adventure.

Ruthie:        Yes, I agree – that’s what makes it so exciting. We are at a wonderful point in history where barriers between young and old, myths of the old ways and modern life, all seem to be blending. It’s super to see the world of the Celts and Celtic Mythology appearing in books for young adults. What helped you to decide to incorporated this into the theme of the book?

Christine:    Both my husband/coauthor and I have always been drawn to the tales and mythology of the Celts. I have especially been drawn to the Green Man over the years. I am saddened that so few people know who he is. I wanted to bring him into our story and hopefully raise awareness to him by doing so.

Gary:           That’s wonderful! That’s the reason we do our show as well – raising awareness of the stories of our ancestors.

Ruthie:        Well, that and trying to learn all the stories!

Gary:            Yes, you’re right – there is an awful lot of information just waiting to be re-discovered! I can’t wait to see how you treat the Green Man archetype in your book, Christine.  Tell me, how did you come up with the title of the book – it seems so fitting?

Christine:    (Smiling) Rowan is both the birth name of Ethan’s long lost brother and a magical wood, sacred to the Druids. We thought it was fitting for the name of the Druid in our book. Since we merge Rowan’s history with the myth of the Green Man, Rowan of the Wood seemed appropriate.

Ruthie:         Sounds great! Were there any other stories from Celtic Mythology that particularly inspired you?

Christine:    Loads! But I guess the strongest for me are The Mabinogion and some of the other earlier tales of the Arthurian Legend. The myth of the veil to the Otherworld being the thinnest on the night of Samhain was obviously a big inspiration. Folklore in general like that of the fey and other Otherworldly creatures. Tales of Math and Chulainn.

Continued just below….

Originally posted 2009-04-15 09:25:49. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

CNN reports that Bretons are fighting to save their language from extinction. They say:

At a busy creperie amid the cobbled medieval streets of Quimper in Brittany, northern France, a lunchtime crowd is enjoying hearty galettes packed with combinations of meats, cheeses and eggs. The crepe has become a staple of French cuisine, but another aspect of Brittany’s culture — the region’s unique language — is in danger of dying with an aging generation of Breton speakers.

Almost two million people spoke Breton at the beginning of the 20th century, according to Ofis ar Brezhoneg, the Breton Language Office. That number has now declined to around 250,000 according to UNESCO, which lists the language as severely endangered.

But the latest figures may already be out of date. Most Breton speakers are now in their 70s or older and the language is estimated to be losing around 10,000 speakers a year.

The Breton language is the main aspect of our culture, our identity.

Fulup Jakez, head of Ofis ar Brezhoneg, told CNN.

If we lose our language we lose everything.

Brittany — or Breizh in Breton — has always had a seperate identity to the rest of France. The northwestern peninsula was settled by Celtic migrants who arrived from Britain in the fifth and sixth centuries AD. The region remains proud of its heritage with a rich tradition of Celtic music and culture that shares more in common with Cornwall, Wales or Ireland than France.

Although Brittany came under French rule in the 16th century, it was only after the French Revolution in 1789 that the country’s regions were properly incorporated into a unified state.

Central to that process was the use of French as the country’s official language, with revolutionary thinkers stating that regional languages represented the “barbarism” of the past and needed to be “obliterated.” Brittany and other regions, such as Corsica, Alsace and Basque areas in the southwest, are still living with the consequences today.

According to article two of the French constitution, there is only one language of the republic. Collective rights are not recognized; the Basque speakers in France are invisible.

Paul Bilbao, a Basque language campaigner, told CNN.

Bilbao said the situation in France was worse than in many other European countries with linguistic minorities such as Spain and the UK. France is one of few states not to have ratified the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages; a treaty which is considered crucial by campaigners for the protection of the continent’s linguistic diversity.

Some go further still, drawing a comparison between the lack of official recognition for Breton and other regional identities and French attitudes to minorities highlighted by the recent deportations of Roma migrants and the banning of Muslim headscarves.

France is not at ease with diversity at all. It’s part of the French political culture to be scared of the outside and to be scared of the inside as well.

says Breton journalist Yann Rivallain, editor ofArMen magazine.

For Breton speakers, the lowpoint in the region’s relationship with the French state came after World War II. Many activists were accused of collaborating with the German occupiers — and killed. For years afterwards, the language was banned in schools, with playground notices reading: “No spitting on the ground or speaking Breton.” Jakez says:

At that time, Breton did not exist in society. It was a private language you spoke at home or with your friends. There was no place for the language in public life. It was something hidden.

Many parents simply chose not to pass on a language which was seen as representative of a backward culture, fearing it would give their children a disadvantage in life. Rivallain sees parallels with the struggle of recent immigrant groups, such as those from Arab backgrounds, to integrate into French life.

Eliane Bramley, a parent at the Skol Diwan, is one of those who never had the chance to learn Breton as a child, even though it was her father’s native tongue. Now she is learning the language with her four-year-old daughter, Aziliz.

We want her to have some Breton roots, out of respect for her grandfather who was punished at school if he spoke Breton.

says Bramley.

She’s started to sing a lot in Breton, and to count. We see a blackbird or a dog and we say it in Breton and she corrects me. And my father is absolutely delighted to hear some Breton songs at home. I can see he is a little bit emotional about it.

Read the full story at CNN.com along with some frightening statistics and some examples of the Breton language.

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You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. There are some issues with the App on HTC phones, but we are assured by Wizzard, the programmers, that they are working on solving the problem. You can find it on Appbrain at http://www.appbrain.com/app/celtic-myth-show/tv.wizzard.android.celticmythpodshow841 or by using the QR code opposite.
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The Dreaming Place by Charles de Lint

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“A young woman locked in rage yet seeking magic, Ash is drawn into a wondrous Otherworld of totems and dryads, living tarots and mystic charms. At the same time, Ash’s cousin Nina is stalked by an Otherworld demon-a manitou who can force her mind and soul into the bodies of beasts. Ash must find the strength to overcome her own anger, learn the full power of magic, and save Nina before she becomes the manitou’s weapon, turning the faerie realm into an arctic wasteland. De Lint fans will relish this urban and otherworldly fantasy, partially set in the author’s trademark Newford.”

This book is written as a book for young adults and introduces many of the concepts that appear in his later books. I read The Onion Girl first and was impressed not only by its completeness as a novel in itself but its depiction of the Native American magic and spirit tradition. It was obvious to me that the tradition is very close to the Celtic spirit and Faerie traditions that we have inherited in the Celtic cultures.

I have also started to study the core principles of Shamanism and realise that Charles De Lint is incredibly perceptive in his writings. All of these things made me want to start reading the Newford series from the beginning and I was a little surprised to find that although Wikipedia lists The Dreaming Place as the first in the series, Goodreads lists it as the second. The websites argue over the positions of the first three books: The Dreaming Place, Dreams Underfoot, From a Whisper to a Scream as well.

I haven’t read the other two books yet, but this book is a superb place to start. As it is written for young adults, Charles takes pains to keep the plot unilateral and the concepts well explained. He covers the basic principles of Shape-shifting, totem animals, the Spirit-World, its denizens as well as the ability of the Shaman to travel in it. Quite a lot for what is essentially a small book. I managed to read it in about 3-4 hours, I think. If I could mark it for its introduction to the core concepts of Shamanism I would give it 5 out of 5 stars, but as a novel I have to give it four as I felt a little unsatisfied at the depth of the characters and the single plot-line which I readily recognise is necessary for the book’s target audience. Ruthie reliably informs me that at least one of the characters that I want to know more about makes further appearances in later Newford novels.

As an example of the superb way he intrudes the concepts of the Otherworld, her says on p.48:

“Because this is a land of the spirit – of the mind… it’s difficult to trust one’s perceptions here, particularly when viewing it through the coarse senses of the body. Time travels in paths, like a gust of wind. On one path, it travels at the same speed as it does in the world we have so recently quit. Along another, one minute can be week. Or a week can be a day.”

“Like Faerie,” Ash said, having read about mortals straying for a night into Faerie, only to find that seven years had passed when they returned.

“This is that same Faerie. It’s the otherworld where the spirits live. You can call them manitou or elves or loa – doesn’t much matter. But it’s always the same place.”

I can’t wait to make a start on ‘Dreams Underfoot‘ – that being for me the second in the series as we already have it on our shelves (Ruthie being a long-time de Lint addict) and I’m waiting for From a Whisper… to arrive from eBay. I will also re-visit my review of The Onion Girl in the light of what I am learning about Shamanism. Charles De Lint is a much-undervalued author in my opinion!

View all my reviews

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Still from the Show Pic: BBC iPlayer

The first of five programmes in this series is aboiut the Trees and how they have contributed to the formation of the Scottish landscape. Professor Iain Stewart presents a landmark five-part series in which he reveals how Scotland’s unique and beautiful landscape has been shaped over the centuries. These 5 programmes will be available for viewing until the 26th December 2010.

1. Scotland’s Trees

In this first programme, he uncovers how, over thousands of years, the actions of mankind and the climate nearly led to the downfall of Scotland’s trees and forests. It was only in the 18th century that man realised the extent of the damage to timber stocks, and measures were taken to re-populate the landscape. The impact was profound, but not everyone agreed with the results.

2. The Land

For centuries, the beauty and drama of Scotland’s landscape has been regarded by most visitors as natural. But in 1950, an eminent ecologist concluded the Highlands had been devastated. Once it was rich and diverse he said, but humans had destroyed it and in the process created what he described as a wet desert. Professor Iain Stewart discovers how man made the proverbially beautiful Highlands.

3. The Sea

Professor Stewart reveals how hearts and not heads have ruled the least understood landscape of them all – the sea. The public’s emotions have played a key role in the fate of Scotland’s maritime creatures and the upshot has been a form of lottery. While some species like seals and sea birds have been protected, others – like cod – have been fished nearly out of existence.

Still from the Show Pic: BBC iPlayer

4. Scotland’s Water

As ‘natural’ icons, Scotland’s rivers and lochs represent how the nation imagines itself. However as Professor Iain Stewart discovers, the only thing that happens naturally is rain. As soon as it hits the ground, it is ours and we do with it what we will. Today there are scarcely any rivers or natural large bodies of water left untouched by human activity.

This is the story of how Scotland’s waters became some of the most managed on earth.

5. The Climate

During the Industrial Revolution, Scottish scientists and engineers helped unwittingly set off a chain of events that today we know as climate change – a process that is transforming our atmosphere and warming our planet. Professor Iain Stewart looks at how Scotland is on the verge of another revolution: the transformation of a carbon economy to a green one.

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BRAND NEW!!! The App is now available for Android users.

Pic: Adventure Gamers

For those of you with a bent for computer games, you will have no doubt heard us talking about the new adventure game set in Wales and based firmly in Celtic Mythology, Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches, and created by the Welsh design team, Arberth Studios. Adventure Gamers have been fortunate enough to secure an interview with one of the three team members responsible for the design of the game, Noel Bruton.

Ruthie bought and played this game and got stuck in what appeared to be a game glitch; sadly after many hours of play she gave up. I would imagine by now that they have fixed or patched the game to prevent this happening.

In the interview, Adventure Gamers say: Continue Reading »

Originally posted 2009-06-17 08:02:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter