The Celtic nation comprises six nations sharing the same language today, their biggest identity worldwide. Most might not be aware of it, but they share more things. Though their recognition differs in every state, these identical entities are still popular worldwide. We are talking about different Celtic festivals they have shared since the Celtic era. Here, we will discuss these traditions and their impact on Scottish traditions.
Celtic Festivals
Two countries are commonly discussed as Highlanders: Ireland and Scotland. Other than falling in the same zone, these nations are Celtic and share some common traditions like St. Patrick’s Day, the Spring equinox, etc. Nonetheless, some festivals are specific to each country, like the Edinburgh festivals in Scotland and the Dublin International Film Festival in Ireland. Here, we will talk about some Celtic Festivals, celebrated in both countries.
Imbolc
Imbolc is the traditional religious festival of the Celts, which they have been celebrating for centuries. The celebration day is 1st February, and the aim is to welcome spring. In the beginning, the festival day was a feast day for farmers. Celtic nations consider this event an indication of nature to prepare for change in weather.
The celebrations are the same for this day in Scotland as well as Ireland. Fire is closely affiliated with Scottish traditions, which means bonfires are common. Similarly, they hang St Brigid’s cross on their doors and windows. Doing so means keeping the properties safe from different evil spirits with fortune.
Samhain
Samhain is also an ancient Celtic religion. The festival specified to observe this event is 31st October, but celebrations may extend to 11th November as well. The festival falls between the Autumnal Equinox and the Summer Solstice. To the Celts, the festival thins the barrier between life and death.
According to Newgrange, the history of this festival is almost 4500-5000 years old. Some religious customs are common during this festival, including feasts, food, drinks, and spirit gifts. Another common tradition is visiting Tara Hills, where Celtic people gather for religious rituals and feasting purposes.
Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh is one of the four seasonal festivals of the Gaelic Celts. It is celebrated on 1st August every year, the start of the harvesting season. The festival got its name because of Lugh, an Irish god of craftsmanship, blacksmithing, and wheel making.
The popularity of this event makes the entire Celtic Nation celebrate this day. Some common rituals of the day are offering fruits, feasting, athletic contests, burning a candle, and saying a wish. Its other name is Lammas, which means “the feast of first fruits.” People bake loaves of first fruit and serve the Church to bring fortune to their wheat.
May Day or Beltane
Another famous festival among the Celtic nations that they have celebrated for centuries is May Day or Beltane. Usually celebrated on 1st May, this event welcomes the summer and occurs during the Summer Solstice and Spring Equinox. Many traditions take place at these events, like Maypoles, bonfires, basket preparations, and house decorations.
In Maypole dancing, Celts place a pole between fields, attach ribbons, and dance around it. Bonfires are common among Celts, where they burn traditional logs like yule and oak to get rid of evil spirits. Furthermore, they decorate baskets with flowers to present to their loved ones. Similarly, houses are cleaned and decorated on this day.
Saint Patrick Day
Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious day usually celebrated as a feast on 17th March every year. St. Patrick was a patron saint born in Roman Britain and came to Ireland to preach Christianity. The day arose as a festival in the 17th century.
Today, many customs are common. By now, the most religious celebration of this day is feasting. However, Irish culture has brought new things, such as observations like dancing, singing, playing traditional music, etc. Another common custom of this day is to wear traditional attire in Ireland and Scotland. Kilts for men and women are very common today to admire the rich culture and heritage.
Spring Equinox
Spring Equinox, or Easter or Ostara, is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon, or 20th March. It is a time when day and night are at the equator, and the duration of light and dark becomes the same. Celts celebrated this day as a return of longer days and the start of a new cycle of nature. According to them, doing so brought light and fertility to their lives.
Autumnal Equinox
Ancient Ireland celebrated the Autumn Equinox with various festivals to mark the end of the harvest season. One common festival was Mabon, a celebration of the second harvest. The celebration aimed to thank nature for everything they had and welcome winter for a good perspective. The event usually takes place on 1st November or 30th October. Celts traditionally celebrated this day as a feast day and decorated their homes.
Michaelmas
Michaelmas is a traditional feast day in Celtic nations, particularly Scotland and Ireland. It is observed on 29th September every year as a welfare to summer away to welcome winter. People celebrate it at gatherings, making traditional foods and serving them to loved ones.
According to the National Trust for Scotland, there was a strange or, better to say, awkward celebration in the past, and it was to steal a neighbor’s horse and return them by the next night. Thankfully, this tradition is not a part of their culture anymore. Moreover, the day reminds us of and honors the event when Saint Micheal threw Lucifer out of heaven.
Celtic Festival’s Impact on Scottish Traditions
Undoubtedly, these Celtic festivals are common throughout the Celtic nations, but they have also positively impacted the Scottish tradition. Some influences are shown in their cultural revival, community building, and economic impact. Let’s have an overview of these impacts.
Cultural Revival
Whenever we talk of culture-aligned nations worldwide, Scotland’s name is at the top of those countries. They care a lot about their culture, whether it is their Scottish Highland Dress or festivals. Most of the traditional festivals are ancient, even from the Celtic age. Celtic festivals have helped Scots keep their rituals revived from day one.
Community Building
Scotland remained in a state of war for a long period. Its community system was disturbed a lot, and Highland Clearances in the 17th century became a nightmare for them. During these harsh periods, Celtic festivals spiked as a calming moment and helped Scots stay together in different gatherings.
The impact continues in Scotland today. Many Celtic festivals let people come closer to each other and strengthen their bonds. Similarly, the festivals offer economic stability, not only in Scotland but also in other Celtic countries.
Conclusion
Celtic festivals are important in Celtic nations and other parts of the world where these nations reside. Some common celebrations lie within these countries, while others have adopted traditions like Spring Equinox, Samhain, etc. Furthermore, these events positively impact all the countries of the zone. Scotland also benefits, while cultural revival, community building, and economic stability are common.
