Principle Beliefs
Celtic steelwork of their gods
Celtic religion by all means was not a simple system of belief, in conjunction with this, we also know very little about what they actually believed. Although from the work of scholars and archaeologists we are given a rough idea of what their believe may have been.
- The first believe is paganism. This was a polytheistic religions which had hundreds of gods. Celtic Gods and Goddesses represented the elemental forces of nature. From what we know, the majority of these gods took the form of animals this is a religious practice known today as animism.
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The Celts believed that the world was alive. Part of Irish Celtic religion was the belief that naturally occurring things such as rocks, rivers and trees had spirits. These were not necessarily good or bad spirits but could react in a certain way, depending on how they were treated. Importance of Druids- Our understanding of a druid today is the equivalent to a priest in a way. The were extremely important and were even feared by some members of Celtic Tribes. The had an influence over the Kings and some say they were even more important that the kings. They were a very mysterious member of the Celtic society, they also were privileged and didn't have to pay taxes or fight in battles. |
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Another belief which was important to the Celts was their Calendar. This may seem ludicrous from a 21st Century perspective although the Celtic Calandar was vital in the relgious celebrations of the Celts. More on the Celtic Calendar can be explore here; http://www.celticquill.com/irish-culture/48-the-celtic-calendar