The Faerie Rade Pic: “Three Muses” by Liza Lambertini

The Fairy Raid or Rade, that time when the Fae are out and about in force on their borders, is a common theme of Fae belief and Thomas Keightley, in his great 1870 book describes it in the following manner. The Fairy Rade, or procession, was a matter of great importance. It took place on the coming in of summer, awl the peasantry, by using the precaution of placing a branch of rowan over their door, might safely gaze on the cavalcade, as with music sounding, bridles ringing, and voices mingling, it pursued its way from place to place. An old woman of Nithadale gave the following description of one of these processions:

“In the night afore Roodmass I had trysted with a neebor lass a Scots mile frae hame to talk anent buying braws i’ the fair. We had nae sutten lang aneath the haw-buss till we heard the loud laugh of fowk riding, wi’ the jingling o’ bridles, and the clanking o’ hoofs. We banged up, thinking they wad owre us. We kent nae but it was drunken fowk ridin’ to the fair i’ the forenight. We glowred roun’ and roun’, and sune saw it was the Fairie-fowks Rade. We cowred down till they passed by.

“A beam o’ light was dancing owre them mair bonnie than moonshine: they were a’ wee wee fowk wi’ green scarfs on, but ane that rade foremost, and that ane was a good deal larger than the lave wi’ bonnie lang hair, bun’ about wi’ a strap whilk glinted like stars. They rade on braw wee white naigs, wi’ unco lang swooping tails, an’ manes hung wi’ whustles that the win’ played on. This an’ their tongue when they sang was like the soun’ o’ a far awa psalm. Marion an’ me was in a brade lea fiel’, where they came by us; a high hedge o’ haw-trees keepit them frae gaun through Johnnie Corrie’s corn, but ‘they lap a’ owre it like sparrows, and gallopt into a green know beyont it. We gaed i’ the morning to look at the treddit corn; but the fient a hoof mark was there, nor a blade broken.”

The Fairy Raid: Carrying Off a Changeling, Midsummer Eve by Joseph Noel Paton

Perhaps one of the most famous images of the Rade is the 1867 oil painting by Joseph Noel Paton. The BBC describe the painting: Set at twilight in a dark wood this scene is less innocent than it first appears. While the large fairies are the conventionally beautiful and aristocratic figures of medieval romance, their smaller attendants are the grotesque creatures more often associated with folklore.

The Fairy Raid: Carrying Off a Changeling, Midsummer Eve Pic: Wiccan Together

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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Handster at http://www.handster.com/celtic_myth.html or by using the QR code opposite. It’s also found on the Opera Marketplace in the US.
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Roman Brooch Pic: Wales Online

Cadw’s Community Archaeologist, Caroline Pudney, tells how a Roman brooch can change lives in our latest essay from Wales Online‘s Welsh History Month series. She says: Imagine my surprise and delight when this brilliant star-shaped brooch popped out of a very muddy field in Caerleon in 2010. Little did I know that this was the beginning of my journey to help others get a similar kick out of shiny objects.

It was all legitimate, of course. I was part of a team of archaeologists from Cardiff University and University College London excavating a field in the Roman legionary fortress at Caerleon. The excavations revealed a warehouse building and a series of square rooms surrounding a large courtyard as well as some truly amazing objects, including this brooch.

Questions, Questions, Questions

As I knelt there admiring the craftsmanship, I began to ask the sorts of questions everyone asks. Who wore this brooch? Whose cloak did it fasten? Was it one of the soldiers of the Second Augustan Legion who was stationed here? Was it a prized possession perhaps? A gift from a loved one? The intricate design and enamelling would surely have made this an expensive object. Or did it belong to one of the officer’s wives or a local girl from the tribe of the Silures?

So far, so good; lots of questions but no answers. The excavations in Caerleon, however, not only trained undergraduate archaeology students but also gave volunteers a chance to get involved, especially people from the local community who might not normally be interested in archaeology.

I then began to really understand that the past has something for everyone and that community engagement is not just a buzz word but a way of helping people learn and care about their history. It doesn’t matter that we don’t have all the answers; what matters is firing the imagination to ask the questions in the first place. For me this was the beginning.

Now, as community archaeologist at Cadw, I can help to create opportunities for everyone to experience archaeology, discover beautiful objects like this one and question what the past means to them.

The Birth of MORTARIA

Taking this Roman brooch as inspiration, the MORTARIA project was born. MORTARIA stands for Motivating Offender Rehabilitation Through Archaeological Recording, Investigation and Analysis. It’s a fitting acronym because mortaria is also the name for Roman versions of mortars (from a pestle and mortar) and Roman objects provided the inspiration for this project. This innovative project was designed to contribute towards the rehabilitation of offenders at HMP & YOI Parc, Bridgend.

One participant recalls:

The archaeology course was very interesting with a lot of different aspects to it. The lessons themselves were not too intense which promoted the students to learn easier and pick up more information about things like the Roman military [formations, structure and hierarchy of legions].

By taking this cross-disciplinary approach – using archaeology, photography, cookery, IT and art – we were able to devise a range of activities that could improve numeracy, literacy and communication skills in particular. We also helped participants to develop their observation and analytical skills, and learn to work as part of a team. And we encouraged participants to understand how their behaviour impacts on others – all valuable lessons to help people find jobs and lead fulfilling lives.

A Roman Star-Shaped Brooch

This beautiful enamelled plate brooch is in the form of a six-point star. At present, it is without parallel, but this is not unusual in the case of plate brooches. Found in the Roman fortress at Caerleon, the pattern is likely to represent a fusion of native and foreign designs combining Celtic and Roman influences. This suggests the craftsman who made itthis brooch was familiar with the traditions of both the local civilian and soldier populations.

The brooch probably dates from the 2nd century AD, making it around 1,800 years old.

For more information about MORTARIA, Cadw’s community archaeology projects, visiting Caerleon Roman Fortress, and Welsh History Month go to cadw.wales.gov.uk.

To read the full article go to the Wales Online website.

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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Handster at http://www.handster.com/celtic_myth.html or by using the QR code opposite. It’s also found on the Opera Marketplace in the US.
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The Magical Faerie Festival Pic: Magical Faerie Festival

We are going to be away for a few days as we are attending the Magical Faerie Festival in Findon, West Sussex. We are hoping to be able to interview some of the people there and maybe bring you a special show to give you a feel for what actually happens at a Fairy festival, what its like and some of the general ambience. There is an amazing line-up of music for the weekend, and we hope to have a few words with some of the artists and be able to play you some of their music! Hope to see you there!

This year’s festival features our largest line-up of live music and entertainment yet.  All of which is included in the price of your festival ticket!

Performances will take place on our outdoor stage and also inside our huge music tent.

Live Music

Inkubus Sukkubus, Daemonia Nymphe, Flutatious, Serpentyne, Spriggan Mist,
Beck Sian, Matthew Callow, Ash Mandrake,
Fay Brotherhood Cernewoda, Roxircle,
Jaime Black, Kim Thompsett, Willows Drum,
Inta Africa, Jonathon Kershaw + more!

Entertainment

Fire shows by Poi Passion, Morris dancers, belly dancers, harp playing workshop, learn circus skills, fae craft sessions, drumming plus a large selection of free talks and workshops for all ages!

Children’s Activities

Lot’s of FREE workshops and activities will be available for the young fae at this years fest!

Food & Drink

Our on-site food stalls at this years fest are:
Flapping Jacks – Veggie & Vegan delights
Cafe Chameleon – Yummy meals & snacks

Our ale and mead bar will be open daily from 6pm offering a selection of local UK drinks and brews!

For more information and late tickets or Day Passes, visit the Festival website.

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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Handster at http://www.handster.com/celtic_myth.html or by using the QR code opposite. It’s also found on the Opera Marketplace in the US.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

The Carving of St Derfel’s Horse Pic: Wales Online

Welsh History Month continues on the Wales Online website by asking what is the most important object in Welsh history? Today Dr Madeleine Gray, from the University of South Wales, argues the case for the carving of St Derfel’s horse. In the parish church at Llandderfel in Merionethshire is a huge, battered carving of an animal. Its head has been hacked away until it is no more than a stump. Its feet are tucked neatly underneath the body. The local people call it “St Derfel’s Horse”.

It is now kept safe in the church porch, but at one time it was carted round the parish on Easter Tuesday and the children were given rides on it. Alongside the animal is a decorated pole. This is usually called “St Derfel’s Staff”, but it is far too big to have been a walking-stick.

But this bizarre carving is all that is left of one of the most important cult images in medieval Wales, a carving of the warrior saint Derfel Gadarn, Derfel the Strong. According to legend, Derfel was one of King Arthur’s knights. He fought at the battle of Camlaan, where Arthur’s son and enemy Mordred was killed and Arthur himself was mortally wounded. After the trauma of the battle, Derfel gave up his warrior life and became a wandering hermit. He founded churches in north and south Wales before becoming abbot of Bardsey. There he died, and was buried alongside (according to tradition) 20,000 other saints.

As well as the church with his statue in Merionethshire, the little chapel of Llandderfel on the slopes of Mynydd Maen above Cwmbran in Monmouthshire was named after him. Pilgrims called there on their way to the shrine of the Virgin Mary at Penrhys, and the chapel claimed to have a picture and a relic of the saint. It was a web of devotion crisscrossing Wales – and all that is left of it now are these two mutilated pieces of carved wood.

Saints, soldiers and stags

Derfel was not the only Welsh saint to have had an earlier career – what we would nowadays call a late vocation. Several of his fellow-soldiers at Camlaan subsequently became religious leaders. A spear which was said to be the one St Pedrog wielded in the battle was kept as a relic in his church at Llanbedrog on the Lleyn. Gwynllyw, who gave his name to St Woolos in Newport, was a soldier as a young man. He and his wife Gwladus (the parents of the better-known St Cadoc) were a wild young pair, eloping from her father’s palace in Brecon and running away over the hills. Cadfan and Illtud were both famous as soldiers before they took to the religious life.

Stag Pic: Pics Box

The animal with Derfel, though, was in fact not a horse but a stag. Many of the Welsh saints had stags as companions. Brynach’s cart was pulled by two stags. Another two stags helped Cadoc’s monks to rebuild their monastery. Illtud rescued a stag which was being hunted by King Meirchion. The animal became tame and helped to pull a cart. All these stories show the way the saints were expected to be able to control the natural world: the wildest and most terrifying of animals did their bidding.

We do not know what the story about Derfel and the stag was. The neighbouring church at Llangar was said to have been built on a site shown by a white stag, and there may have been a similar story about the stag at Llandderfel. Or perhaps Derfel rode the stag, like St Teilo. (The carving of St Teilo riding his stag in the parish church of Llandeilo Talybont, now in the museum at St Fagans, is a modern copy of a medieval carving from Brittany.)

Prayer and pilgrimage

The carving of Derfel and his stag was of enormous importance to the people of north Wales. It was very vividly carved, and parts of it could be made to move. The eyes, for example, could blink. This wasn’t necessarily to deceive people – any more than a modern computer animation at an old building is meant to deceive. But it made the statue more lifelike, and so gave it more power. We also need to remember that the statue was painted – you can still see traces of the red undercoat on the stag.

According to Ellis Price, who was sent by Thomas Cromwell to take the statue down at the Reformation, as many as six hundred people visited it on the saint’s day in April. Not that this compares with the tens of thousands (many of them Welsh) who went to Rome or Compostela on the great festival days, but it’s still pretty impressive for a little hamlet in the Welsh hills.

The world we have lost

The carving of Derfel’s companion is a very rare survival from our medieval past. At one time Wales was full of these statues. Carvings of our saints would have filled the churches and dotted the countryside. We know about a lot of these statues because the poets wrote about them. But almost all of them were destroyed at the Reformation. Carvings of the Virgin Mary at Penrhys and Cardigan, of Mary Magdalene at Usk, of local saints in almost every church, all were swept away.

We may regret this wholesale obliteration of our cultural heritage, but the reformers believed what they were doing was good and important. After all, bringing cattle, horses and money to give to a statue in the belief that it will rescue you from hell is a rather silly thing to do. If the priests were really encouraging people to do this (and presumably pocketing the proceeds) then reform really was needed.

Icon or idol?

St Catwg window in Caerphilly Pic: Wales Online

So why is the carving of St Derfel’s stag so important? To begin with, it makes us think about the Age of the Saints in Wales. The Welsh saints were an interesting bunch, always awkward, sometimes challenging. They were expected to live in harmony with nature, but also to be able to control it. The stag was Derfel’s companion but it sat submissively at his feet.   The Welsh saints were people of holiness but also people of great power, and they could use that power in ways that seem strange to us. Derfel was a soldier: not one of the chivalrous knights of later Arthurian legend but a skilled fighter, someone trained to kill. Cadoc cheated King Arthur over a herd of cattle and blinded King Rhun of Gwynedd. Robbers from Gwynedd who attacked Winefride’s shrine at Holywell all suffered horrible deaths.

The statue also makes us think about the lives and beliefs of ordinary people in medieval Wales. They seem to have valued Derfel for his courage and leadership as much as his piety. In a way, a saint who had been a soldier was more holy because he had had to choose to change his way of life. Saints as well as soldiers were expected to be able to protect their people, in the way that Derfel did.

The battered remains of Derfel’s stag also make us think about the changes of the sixteenth century. They were traumatic for many people – but they gave us the Welsh Bible and the culture of the chapel and the gymanfa ganu, and they helped to make us the people we are today.

The later history of the carving is important, too. The way it was carried around the parish at Easter may actually be a survival of pre-Reformation parish processions, with the statue of the saint bringing blessing to the whole community. Giving children rides on the“horse’ was perhaps a way of diminishing its power, but it also shows affection. The rural dean who ordered the mutilation of the carving in 1730 was clearly aware of its power – and it’s equally clear that the locals were reluctant to damage it too much.

Now Derfel’s stag sits peacefully in the church porch. But the saint is having a new lease of life in industrial south Wales. The Ancient Cwmbran Society (motto“Discovering the Ancient History of a New Town’) has commissioned a new larger-than-life statue of the saint. Part of their exploration of the early history of the Cwmbran area has included archaeological work at the Gwent Llandderfel. The saint has an important part in the Society’s heritage trail round the valley.

The story of Derfel and his stag is not over yet.

Read the full story on Wales Online.

To find out more about Welsh history visit  www.cadw.wales.gov.uk

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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Handster at http://www.handster.com/celtic_myth.html or by using the QR code opposite. It’s also found on the Opera Marketplace in the US.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

You may remember the interview we posted here with Rhonda Carpenter and Arlene Radasky.I have just finished reading Mark Of A Druid by Rhonda, and Wow! What a great read. If you are interested in Druids, the ancient Celts, reincarnation, or just enjoy a gripping and entertaining story this book is for you.

The ingenious interweaving of plot and characters pulled me into the story and kept me awake and reading until the very end. The Druid rituals are mysterious and believable, giving me the feeling that I have been honoured to share in the lives and mystical ways of these ancient Celtic people.

When Eve McCormick clinical hypnotherapist and researcher starts suffering nightmares and visions, the images and feelings stay with her leaking into her everyday life.  Along with her friend and mentor Dr. Andrea McMurray, they begin to explore their shared dreams looking for the reason behind them. While Eve’s life is overwhelmed by these events, her research project into re-incarnation becomes threatened by a colleague who is wreaking revenge in the present for slights in the ancient past.

I enjoyed the suspense Rhonda cleverly builds into the novel, and the unexpected romance and family bonds that grow within the story. I also fell in love with both Cosmo the Cat and Odin the Crow who both play an important part in the lives of Eve and Aileann.

Rhonda Carpenter rivals the ancient Seanachai in her ability to take the reader to another world which interlinks with the present at every unexpected turn.

A highly recommended and thoroughly enjoyable read.

Rhonda is also running some super competitions. To enter  and win great prizes relating to Mark of A Druid visit Rhonda’s website at http://www.themarkofadruid.com/mod/

You can listen to Mark Of A Druid free at http://www.podiobooks.com/title/the-mark-of-a-druid and also hear the prologue for Rhonda’s next book When Ether’s Descend

Or buy Mark of A Druid from here (UK) or here (USA)

Originally posted 2009-03-15 10:36:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Beltane: Springtime Rituals, Lore and Celebration Pic: Amazon

The celebration of May features the festival of Beltane, which is held on May Eve or the first day of May. May Day celebrations are well noted in the 19th century; however, there is little evidence available to indicate the specific historical origins. Some commentators believe that the rites of Beltane are traceable to the ancient Roman festival of Floralia, which was celebrated with floral processions. Others believe it originated among the Celts that inhabited the British Isles. Whatever the origins of May Day or Beltane are, it is still celebrated as a time of renewal within nature. Beltane can also be regarded as a celebration in anticipation of the coming summer season. In modern Wicca the rite of Beltane is an observance of the courtship of the Goddess and God whose union rejuvenates the earth. From this union the world becomes abundant with the bounty of nature.

Flowers, branches, and garlands feature prominently in the merriment of May. The old tradition in Greece was to gather flowers on the morning of May 1st, and afterward to fasten them to the doors or windows of houses and merchant shops. In parts of England the May customs involved the carrying of May dolls by young girls, while young boys carried a bullock’s horn. The boys and girls also carried a sprig from narrow-leaf elm tree. The underlying theme of such practices is one of fertility.

One lovely custom of the May Day celebration, once popular in parts of England, involved going door-to-door and caroling. Among the common songs the following is one of the oldest and most representative of oral tradition:

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen;
I wish you a happy day;
I’m come to show my garland,
because it’s the First of May.

A bunch of May I have brought you,
and at your door it stands;
it is but a spray, but it’s well spread about,
‘Tis the work of the Fays’ hands.

And now I’ve sung my little short song,
no longer can I stay;
Faeries bless you all, both great and small,
and grant you a very happy May.”

In Scotland the celebration of May included the gathering of rowan tree branches and other greenery and flowers. One of the oldest Scottish customs was for young women to climb to the top of a hill to see the sunrise rise on the first day of May. The women would then wet their faces with the morning dew in a belief that this would bestow greater beauty in the months ahead.

In old England the celebration of May featured a woman bearing the title and office of the Queen of May or the May Queen. It seems to have been the custom, at the celebration of the May-games, to elect a Lord and Lady of the May to preside over the festivities. The Lord of the May was decorated with scarves, ribbons, and other fineries. Traditionally the Lady wore a garland and crown made of the following flowers: tulips, anemones, cowslips, kingcups, meadow-orchids, wall-flowers, primroses, crown-imperials, lilacs, laburnums, roses (and other available bright flowers of all descriptions). A large doll, which was known as Madame Flora, accompanied the May Queen. The figure was suspended from a pyramid-like configuration of evergreen boughs decorated with nosegays. Ribbons and colorful fabrics hung as streamers from the base of the nosegays. The procession ended in a mock marriage to the King of May. Here again we see the underlying theme of fertility associated with the rites of May.

The May Queen Pic: josefskrhola

One of the most popular features of the May celebration is the Maypole. Part of the symbolism of the Maypole dance is the wedding of the May Queen and May King. The dance involves the braiding of colored ribbons suspended from a long pole. This represents the joining and entwining of the fertile forces of nature that are personified as Queen and King.

The Maypole is traditionally nine feet tall. Colored ribbons are attached to the top of the pole. These consist of an equal number of ribbons or streamers. A minimum of two ribbons is used, and the traditional colors are red and white; the ribbons are twice as long as the length of the Maypole. The end of each ribbon is held by an individual dancer. As the dance commences, the dangling ribbons begin to be braided through the movements of the dancers.

An even number of persons is required for this dance; half the number takes the end of a ribbon in the right hand and the other half in the left. The dancers then stand across from each other, facing alternately right and left. When the dance commences, each dancer facing the right passes under the ribbon held by the one opposite (who faces the left). Each dancer allows the next person going to the left to pass under his or her ribbon, and so on, moving in and out, under and over as the ribbons are woven around the pole.

In one variation of the dance the participants separate into two equal divisions, and each party, independent of the other, plaits a strip which hangs loosely from the pole. In performing this variation the two parties stand on either side of the pole, and all those facing the right pass on in that direction, going in and out until the last person going to the right has passed the last person going to the left in her division. During this phase the ribbons are transferred ribbons to their other dancers’ hands as they all turn and reverse order. They continue going back and forth until the plait is about a foot in length, when another change is made by the two parties joining forces again. This time, all those facing the left proceed in that direction, passing under the ribbons of all the others who are going to the right, thus forming two circles, one within the other. After going twice around the pole in this order, the dancers composing the inner circle take the outside and the others pass beneath their ribbons, again circling the pole twice. After going through the first figure once more, the dance may be ended or the whole order may be reversed. The latter choice will unplait the ribbons around the Maypole.

Jack in the Green Pic: Aspex Design: Photos by Dean Thorpe

An interesting character associated with May Day celebration is known as Jack-in-the-green. In old street processions he was accompanied by a band of chimney sweeps and a man known as the whistler. On May Day, in an old custom, the chimney sweeps were called the clergy. They constructed a Jack-in-the-green figure, which was carried through the streets during the May Day festival. It is traditionally composed of a framework of old hoops, connected by uprights of flexible wood. The framework is covered with green baize, and on to this the boughs are attached, which make the green. Sometimes the Jack-in-the Green is a man dressed with ribbons and flowers. Traditionally he carries a long walking stick with a floral wreath.

Many of the old May Day customs began to disappear in the later half of the 19th century. The society of chimney-sweeps kept up the customs longest, coming out in force, dressed up with fantastic hats and colored ribbons. In the midst was a moving arbor of green branches and flowers; this was the classic Jack in the Green. Beside him ran and danced a girl in festive colors, who was called Maid Marian. Preceding the Jack-in-Green marched a fife & drum or a fiddler, and they stopped at certain points to dance round Jack in the Green. During the procession the chimney-sweepers carry their shovels and brushes in their hands, which they rattle together, and to this rough music they jump about in imitation of dancing.

Another procession consisted of the milkmaids. These dairy women came dressed in bright colors with flowers in their hair or in their hats. They led along a milk cow covered with garlands, and they carried pails ornamented with ribbons and flowers. During the procession the maids would stop to dance the cow to the music of the violin or clarinet. At an earlier time, instead of a cow, there was a costumed man dressed similar to Jack-in-the-green. He was encased in a frame that covered the upper half of his body. On this frame hung clusters of silver flagons and tankards each set in a bed of flowers. Alongside this figure walked a fiddler that was always represented as one-legged.

In the early half of the 16th century the stories of Robin Hood and his companions were introduced into the pageantry of the May-games. He was one of the legendary characters that the populace were fond of impersonating (particularly in the plays performed by the Morris dancers in association with May Day). It is perhaps for this reason that the May celebration was sometimes called Robin Hood’s Festival. According to legend Robin reportedly died on the first of May, which no doubt connected his legend to this celebrator season.

In the May celebrations the Robin Hood figure appeared as the Lord of the May, accompanied by his faithful mistress, the Maid Marian, who took on the role of Lady of the May. His companions wore the traditional hunting garb of foresters. So popular was the inclusion of Robin Hood that notes were sometimes found on church doors explaining that the church was closed because the parishioners were out gathering for Robin Hood and the May games. This was not only the case in England, but the General Assembly in Scotland twice requested (in 1577 & 1578) that the king prohibit plays of “Robin Hood, King of May” held on the Sabbath day. Some commentators believe that the popularity of Robin Hood in the May celebrations is rooted in the figure itself being of pagan origins. In this context Robin Hood represents a pagan deity associated with spring and vegetation, which may be a form of the classic Green Man.

In modern times the first of May is celebrated by many contemporary Pagans, Wiccans, and Witches as a Beltane ritual. In modern times, as it was long ago, Beltane features a bonfire symbolizing the coming of summer. Dancers perform around the blazing fire to the rhythm of drums. For many dancers the dance is an ecstatic experience, and each person enters into a relationship with the fire itself as though it were a living being.

Beltane Bonfire Celebrations Pic: Richard Milnes

The name Beltane has its roots in the Celtic word tein, which means fire. The etymology of Beltane is debatable. One theory is that the ancient deity associated with the May season was Baal, and in this context we have Baal-tein, the fire of Baal. Baal was also known as Bel, and over the course of time the name Beltane prevailed. The second theory is that Beltane is derived from bea’uil, which is related to Beal and teine. From this combination we can arrive at Beal teine, or Beltane. The term bea’ uil means the life of everything or the source of everything. However, according to some commentators, Beltane is derived from two Gaelic words co joined to form the name Paleteia which means Pales’ fire (as opposed to Baal’s fire). The goddess Pales was the Roman deity of cattle, pastures, and shepherds. We may never be certain of the origins of Beltane, but the spirit of Beltane remains with us to this very day.

The sacredness of the Beltane fire is expressed in the ancient practice of lightning a needfire. This was done to purify the land and its people as well as to reawaken the spirit of the region. When harsh times and decline befell a community all fires in the area were extinguished. A large bonfire was then ignited on a hilltop, and from this sacred fire torches were lighted. The torches were then carried into the villages to relight the hearth fires of the homes. From this single bonfire light was reborn in the kingdom. This ancient concept of renewal is a theme that can and should be incorporated into our modern Beltane celebration. May the new light and the inherent sacredness of the Beltane season reawaken the vital and sustaining spirit of our own homeland.

This article remains the copyright of Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd  and can be found on the Llewellyn website.

COPYRIGHT 2013 Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. All rights reserved.

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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Handster at http://www.handster.com/celtic_myth.html or by using the QR code opposite. It’s also found on the Opera Marketplace as well as AppBrain in the US.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

Men-an-tol Pic: Rainbow Network

Thanks to our Guest blogger, Glenn Broughton, for the following article. Our world is changing rapidly. The whole world has opened up before us through the Internet and wireless communications and our future lies uncertainly in front of us. Or does it lay partly behind us?

Interestingly, more people than ever before are now visiting and interested in ancient sacred sites across the globe. Stonehenge in England, the Pyramids in Egypt and Machu Picchu in Peru, are household names. What is it that is attracting so many people to check out these places? Who built these ancient temples and why?

Today these now-ancient sacred sites might at first appear to be just piles of rocks, dead relics of a bygone age. However, with an appreciation of our ancestors’ perspective and stories and myths passed down through the generations, we see a different story.

In Tune

It seems we are instinctively drawn to reconnect with the earth in a very personal way. Our ancestors knew the Earth intimately and understood its wisdom. They lived in much closer communion with the planet than we do today. Their sense of the natural forces of the Earth must have been a whole-body awareness like that of indigenous peoples around the world today, able to sense the serpentine currents of electromagnetic energy which course through the ground following the subterranean streams of water.

Their observations of the rising and setting sun’s movement along the horizon and the behaviour of the moon and stars in the night sky over generations would have developed into a body of knowledge recorded by site alignments and stone placements. This not only alerted them to the changing seasons but also to those times when the Earth energies and cosmic influences were strongest.

Everything is Energy

The trees were the first to teach us the consequences of enclosing natural energy. The Druids performed all their ceremonies in sacred groves for this reason. The stone circle builders developed this theme and used crystal-studded rocks to harness the natural energies. It took another five thousand years before we rediscovered the potential of crystal which we have successfully harnessed to power our computer based world.

Will water be the next great ‘discovery’? There is a growing understanding of the unique properties of water, such as its ability to hold information or memory, like crystal. Will the stories of holy wells having healing properties turn out to be backed up by the emerging science?

Working with the Energy

Science and open-minded spirituality appear to have run full circle and finally come together to reach the same place, namely that like attracts like and we create our reality – the laws of the universe make it impossible for anything else to happen.

On some level we still know what our ancestors knew – that the ancient sacred sites hold power and potential. The stone circles, chambers, temples and structures are containers of the Earth’s electromagnetic energy that is the same frequency as that of our brainwaves when we are in a meditative state. The law of resonance is the principle behind the power of prayer and ritual conducted in sacred space – in other words, sacred sites really work! Combining ‘New Age’ thinking with ‘Stone Age’ technology gives an updated meaning to the phrase ‘The New Stone Age’!

Glenn Broughton has been researching and visiting ancient sacred sites for twenty years and is drawn to explore their energetic properties and how such places of power affect us today. He has been a tour guide for most of this time leading groups exploring the mystery of sacred sites through Journeys With Soul http://www.journeyswithsoul.com. He also lecturers internationally on sacred sites, earth mysteries and crop circles, and is the co-founder / co-organizer of Earth Spirit Conferences http://www.earthspiritconferences.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Glenn_Broughton.

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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Wizzard-Media-Celtic-Myth-Podshow/dp/B004W8QR58 or by using the QR code opposite.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

Originally posted 2012-02-07 14:39:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

World Drum Ceremonies Montage Pic: Matthew Holbrook

Philip Shallcrass, Greywolf, Chief of the British Druidry Order says that the World Drum is a remarkable shamanic instrument created as the result of a vision given to Norwegian shaman, White Cougar. White Cougar heard the call of Mother Earth asking for the Drum to be created and sent out around the world carrying the message that it is time for all the people of the world to awaken to the harm we are doing to our Mother Earth before it is too late, and that as part of this re-awakening we must put an end to war and hatred. The drum was made by Sami drum-maker, Birger Mikkelsen.

It was first played in ceremony outside the Norwegian parliament in 2006. Since then, it has visited six continents and been played at over 500 venues.

The Drum is a wakeup call, walking from hand to hand, from land to land, joining people across borders, ethnicities, political and religious views. It is the manifestation of a vision, a symbol of the circle of life and that we all are connected in a common struggle for humanity and Mother Earth.

Although a Sacred drum, this drum is to be enjoyed and played by all. No matter who you are or who you have been, we are all related. In its seven year journey, the Drum has visited five continents, its heartbeat being heard in sacred ceremony at 500 locations. As the World Drum travels from country to country, people to people, and from hand to hand, its heartbeat grows stronger each day, calling us to reinstate our spiritual relationship to Mother Earth.

Speech for Mother Earth

We are all human beings, all people, you, me, our neighbours. No matter where you live in this world, if it is in Africa or South-America, if it is in Asia, Europe or U.S.A, we are all sisters and brothers in humanity. All people of the world. Whether rich or poor, whatever colour, religion or political thinking, we are all residents of this one planet, Mother Earth.

While the World Drum is played, Greywolf reads the Prayer to Mother Earth Pic: Wendy

The time has come to answer the questions.
Do we really want to destroy our home?
Do we really want war, hunger or disasters?
Do we really want to give our next generations
a planet in such a condition that there will not be any hope for survival?

Mother Earth is crying.
She is shivering in fear of losing all her entrails,
as we dig and drill to get hold of what we think is our right
towards a better wealth.

Mother Earth is crying.
Soon she will not have any tears left,
and then it will be too late.
The time has come to unite and stand together.
Please, I ask you,
take each other’s hands,
lift them high and make a prayer
while The World Drum sings her song
and we feel her heartbeat.
It is the heartbeat of Mother Earth.
It is our heartbeat,
from each and one all over the world.
It is the heartbeat of life itself.

Let us join together as one that this heartbeat may continue.

Morten Wolf Storeide, Norway 2006

The Celebrations at Wildways

White Cougar will be at Wildways Pic: nordlys.no

This event combines our farewell to the World Drum with the launch of the Druid Hedge Schools Project, a joint initiative between the British Druid Order, the Druid Network and the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids that’s aimed at bringing low-cost, high-quality Druidical teachings to venues around the UK. It’s also a great chance for BDO members and friends to get together, as most of our core team and tutors will be there all weekend…

Also joining us for the weekend will be two very special guests, White Cougar, the shaman whose vision inspired the creation of the World Drum, and Morten Wolf Storeide, who oversees the Drum’s many journeys across cultures and around the world.

We begin on Friday with a ‘meet and greet,’ followed by a ceremony with the World Drum, hosted by White Cougar and Morten Wolf Storeide, using a sacred healing plant called chaga. Saturday morning there will be a short introduction to the World Drum for day visitors who weren’t there for the Friday evening ceremony. This will be followed by a short introduction to the Druid Hedge Schools Project. On Saturday, we’ll be offering sample sessions from Druid Hedge Schools’ teachers, including BDO chief, Greywolf, on Saturday morning, continuing throughout the afternoon with:

Anne Marie Langham on Celebrating the Year, Country Wisdom & Folklore;
Cara Moore on Crystal Healing;
Elen Sentier on Chakras;
Kaarina Vanderkamp on Herbs;
Mark Buxton on Personal Practice (Daily Druidry);
Brochfael on Iron Age Britain.

Saturday evening will kick off with a majorly cool eisteddfod session in the big yurt, featuring a set from legendary bard, and one of Britain’s finest singer-songwriters, Robin Williamson which is definitely not to be missed! Robin’s many fans include The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin and Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. There will also be a set from Greywolf, showcasing songs from ‘The Sign of the Rose’ cd and the upcoming ‘Lord of the Wildwood’ cd. We’re delighted that Andy Letcher, lead singer and songwriter with ‘darkly crafted folk’ band, Telling the Bees, will be playing for us, as will local legend, Jake Thomas, and possibly another guest or two. We shall party ’til bedtime!

Sunday, we have more Hedge School sessions in the morning, then a shared lunch and a bring-and-buy market. On Sunday afternoon, we shall hold our last ceremony with the World Drum to bid it farewell on its continuing journey, bringing peace and blessings to our Mother earth and all her children.

The cost for the whole weekend is a mere £55 per person to include catering on Saturday evening, lunch on Sunday and basic breakfasts. Bring and share lunchtime food on Saturday. For those not staying onsite, there will be a few day tickets available at £21 per person to include bring-and-share Saturday lunch evening meal and the evening concert. Booking is available by Paypal or by contacting Elaine Wildways via her facebook page or ‘phoning 01746 861992 Or just send a cheque (made payable to the British Druid Order) to: Elaine Wildways Weekend, Wildways, Borle Mill Bank, Highley, Bridgnorth, Shropshire WV16 6NJ, UK

Sadly, we won’t be able to make it to this really exciting event – but if you go, don’t forget to put up some photos and let us now how it went!

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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Handster at http://www.handster.com/celtic_myth.html or by using the QR code opposite. It’s also found on the Opera Marketplace in the US.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

Bronagh Celtic Knot Wedding Ring Pic: Celtic Wedding Rings

Irish Celtic rings are trendy and much sought after today, the most common being wedding bands, engagement and promise rings or rings given in the spirit of friendship, yet their intricate designs and patterns that include spirals, knots and scrolls can still not be accurately explained. The origin of the Irish Celtic people, their customs and traditions were orally passed down from generation to generation through folklore and legend and nothing about this ancient culture was ever written down. However, the patterns and designs that exist in their art could be looked at as a unique form of writing that has managed to capture their cultures, beliefs, and traditions. The challenge lies in deciphering them accurately and today the symbolism of Irish Celtic jewelry is mostly assumed.

What is known is that Irish Celtic rings date back to about the 1st century BCE. In light of this it is hardly surprising that the meanings attributed to their design has changed over time.

The Celts left a depiction of their life in etchings found in caves as well as carved into stone structure, and even passed their unique and beautiful patterns to the Christians who immortalized them in their books, notably the Irish Book of Kells which is richly decorated throughout with abstract Celtic designs. It is these designs that are emulated in today’s Irish rings.

Ancient history shows that due to persecution the Celts migrated to different lands, one being Ireland. These Irish Celts were later influenced by Christianity and so there are two separate views or meanings that can be attributed to Celtic jewelry. The original meaning is based in the shape of their jewelry. This changed after their conversion to Christianity when the meaning attributed to them stemmed from their designs and patterns. This has also led to Irish Celtic jewelry being dated in two ways; one going back to the time of the very ancient Celts and the other to the time after Christianity.

Significance of Rings

For the ancients, Irish Celtic rings held a much cherished tradition as they considered them to be one of the strongest symbols of marriage and they were able to convey traditional messages of never ending love either between God and humanity or between man and woman. They were beautifully crafted in precious metals such as gold or silver which themselves conveyed a message as precious metals such as these illustrated not only the wearer’s social status but also their financial status or political status. More common though, these symbolic rings were wrought from bronze or iron but even these were intricately decorated with knot work and spirals and even animals and were so carefully crafted that they too became items of great beauty. Their symbolic meaning of long lasting love or friendship stands today.

Celtic Triquetra Ring Pic: Engagement and Rings

There are perhaps many symbols that have been lost over time but the ones in vogue today reflect patterns such as the un-broken Trinity Knot also known as the Celtic triskelion, which has three sides. The number three was very sacred to the ancient Celts and it is believed that this design originally signified the three stages of pagan goddesses which are maiden, mother and old woman, or crone.

After their conversion from Paganism to Christianity the significance changed and became instead a symbol of the Holy Trinity, the father, son and Holy Spirit. Today we can attribute the meaning of love between God, man and wife and even the three way tie between God, the giver of the ring and the love they hold toward family or friends. What is evident is that the ancient Celts captured in these intricately designed rings the faith and reverence towards and their belief in everlasting love.

Claddagh Irish Rings

Gold Irish Claddagh Ring Pic: Jewelry Zen

The Claddagh ring is a modern day interpretation of these ancient Celtic rings and it holds its own significance. Although The Claddagh is shared by all Celts, in Ireland it was derived from a much older ring called the “Fede”, or faith ring. The “Fede” ring dates back to Roman times and was traditionally worn as either an engagement ring or a wedding band that was traditionally passed down from mother to daughter.

Tim Lazaro is a Celtic Symbols enthusiast. Visit All About Celtic Symbols for information on celtic jewellry (http://www.allaboutcelticsymbols.com/CelticJewelry.xhtml)  and other resources you can use right now to gain an understanding of Celtic Symbols and jewelry.

Author: Tim Lazaro
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Handster at http://www.handster.com/celtic_myth.html or by using the QR code opposite. It’s also found on the Opera Marketplace  in the US.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

The CMP Logo Pic: Celtic Myth Podshow

This is the second half of our super show celebrating the Spring Equinox and Ostara! We’ve got another 4 great pieces of music, a charming piece from a book by W.B. Yeats called Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry (and published in 1888!) about the Fairies and a man called Frank Martin who has ‘The Sight’ and our amazing story by Ceri Norman from her superb book, Celtic Maidens. You’ll hear an amazing poem by Rick Allen, as well as music by SJ Tucker, Damh the Bard, the Connemara Stone Company and James Olin Oden! We also announce the winner of the Competition for the Celtic Twist CD, The Visit, that we set in CMP SP34, the Imbolc Show..

How to Listen

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. If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

You can now also hear our show on Stitcher Radio – whenever you want to!

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Handster at http://www.handster.com/celtic_myth.html or by using the QR code opposite. It’s also found on the Opera Marketplace as well as AppBrain in the US.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.