For questions on the mythology and beliefs of the Celtic people, who were once widespread across Europe but now mostly confined to Brittany, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Cornwall. Questions specific to one of the Celtic nations should be tagged by the appropriate regional tag, e.g. [wales].
Questions tagged [celtic]
32 questions
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What is the meaning of not giving clothes to supernatural helpers?
There is a theme that I found in several folk tales from Ireland to Russia - although mostly in Irish/Celtic stories. It is where a house has supernatural helpers, who do work overnight. However, the rule is to not give them clothes, or they will go…
Vixen Populi
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Are elves born on the moon?
I recently listened to Purcell's "King Arthur", and at one point in the libretto, Grimbald speaks of "moon-born elves" (at 19:25 in the linked video):
Let not a moon-born elf mislead ye
From your prey and from your glory;
This made me curious…
Dolda2000
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Was there any figure considered to be evil in iron age Celtic paganism religion of England?
Before Christianization the Celts of England had a pagan religion. Was there any figure in that religion which was considered to be evil?
Sonevol
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Worship of Epona in the Roman Empire
Epona is said to be "the sole Celtic divinity ultimately worshipped in Rome itself" (see Wikipedia article quoting Phyllis Fray Bober).
Is there any reason this divinity in particular was worshipped in the Roman Empire and none of the numerous other…
plannapus
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Did the Gauls have a magic potion that made them strong?
I recently listened to Purcell's "King Arthur", and at one point in the libretto, the Saxons sing of the "juice that makes the Britons bold" (at 11:40 in the linked video; the movement starts at 11:00), which immediately made me think of Asterix…
Dolda2000
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15
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What did Cuchulainn's warp spasm look like?
In the Táin Bó Cúailnge, or Cattle Raid of Cooley, the great Irish hero Cuchulainn is said to undergo a process which appears to be quite similar to "hulking out". The most colorful translation of the phrase used to describe this transformation is…
Wad Cheber
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Are there any relations between Norse elves and Celtic fairies, or their home realms?
A lot of, if not most, modern fantasy tends to have 'Elven' races that seem to be largely inspired by the Norse Elves, likely by way of Tolkien. There also seems to be a large amount of Celtic influence, however. This has got me wondering, are there…
Salvador
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When did Korrigans become part of the Breton folklore?
Korrigans are part of the modern Breton folklore, as water spirits. Some sources give them an origin in ancient Gaul (Thomas Keightley's 1892 "The Fairy Mythology" for instance). Is there any evidence for this?
From some of the stories surrounding…
plannapus
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Are all Celtic Gods (Irish, Welsh, Scottish, and British) considered part of the same pantheon?
The term 'Celtic' means mythology from the British Isles, so are the gods from Irish, Welsh, and Scottish mythology all considered part of the same pantheon? For example, did people who believe in the Irish Celtic Goddess Morrigan also believe in…
Erich
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Symbolism of three characters leading Mayday ritual in The Wicker Man
In The Wicker Man (1973), the Mayday procession is headed by three masked characters:
Their cast includes many alarming characters:
A man-animal, or hobbyhorse,
who canters at the head of the
procession charging at the girls;
A man-woman, the…
amphibient
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How does the Devil come to be horned?
One of the most popular depictions of the Christian Devil is having horns. From whence does this derive?
altarpiece by Michael Pacher depicting the Devil with Saint Wolfgang, Bishop of Regensburg
For instance, this answer suggests a connection…
DukeZhou
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What reason, if any, is there for the exact number of men and women who went with Cesair to Ireland in the Lebor Gabála Érenn?
In the Book of Invasions Cesair flees Noah's flood to Ireland as a kind of matriarch of her fleet. The sources all agree there was an incredible sexual imbalance between men and women, with a total of three males and at least 36 females.…
Travis Smith of Bexar
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How are Norse and Celtic mythology related?
I was in a charms shop a while back and they had a section laid out for Celtic Mythology charms and their meanings. I had a look and found Thor's hammer. I ask my mom and she said the Mythologies are connected. I ignore this with my small mind,…
Andrew Johnson
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Where did the idea come from that fairies must tell the truth?
I keep coming across the idea in blog posts and books that fairies are required to tell the truth, or speak very literally, and may use tricky language to get around it. This is a major theme in Holly Black's faerie books, for instance.
Where does…
Sarah
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How can a human invite or summon a fairy lover?
In celtic folklore, there are many stories of fairy lovers. A famous example is the ballad of Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight. Usually in these tales, the human man or woman are lured or approached by the fairy.
Usually, in these tales, the fairy…
user4301