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Date
Name What?/ Why?
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1. and 2. February
Imbolc
These are the days, when the Celts honour the goddess Birgid who is the patron saint of knowledge, memory, fire and fertility. They bake bread and make butter. Imbolc is the beginning of the spring.
21. March
Eleban Eiler
The Celts celebrate the old relation between sun, earth, moon and sky. The change from darkness to light means to the people that spring is the time of the rebirth. On this day, Celts decorate eggs in red colour. They are the symbol for the sun. In the morning, people go out to look for the birds coming back from the south. They celebrate the return of the birds. After having seen them it is eating and party time.
1. May
Beltane
On this day, the great goddess Ceydween is dancing with the horned god Cerunnos. Winter is over and summer is coming. The Celts celebrate that the darkness is disappearing and that all worries are past. People are dancing the whole night around a great fire, they are singing and enjoying their lifs.
1. August
Lugnasadh
Lugh is the Irish god of the sun and agriculture. This holiday is the beginning of the harvest. The Celts produce dolls made of ears of corn. It is the beginning of the autumn. The Celts are making sacrificial offerings for a "good harvest and peace"
22. September
Mabon
On this day the sun hides and loses its power till the 22. December. The Celts decorate the doors and windows with wreaths made of autumnflowers and grapes.
31. Octobre till 2. November
Samhain
The most important Celtic holiday. But it has nothing in common with the modern Halloween, but the Samhain is its origin. On this day the Celtic New Year and the winter beginning are celebrated. It is a festival in honour of the dead people because on these 3 days the gates to the underworld are open and the people can communicate with the death people.
22. till 25. December
Alban Arthuan
It is the time of natural changes of the earth and of the winter tur of the sun. People are celebrating the rebirth of the sun. The Celtic decorade trees with lights and glitter. It is the festival when everything ends and ervything begins. Later Christians adopted this tradition.
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