Festivals (s. site) it is said, “As darkness overwhelmed the world, the days grew short, and the earth became barren and cold and the veil between the mortal and the supernatural was temporarily drawn aside.” Perhaps no other festival is thus based on a change of mood connected with the natural situation, rather than on the physical state of Nature and Agriculture. At this time, bonfires were lit to remember the sun and encourage its return. This festival, which marks the beginning of the cold and dark winter, may have initiated the day of All Hallows, or Halloween, celebrated on the same date of the year.
On Feb. 1st or 2nd the Celts celebrate Imbolc, which literary means “in milk”. This festival centered on the Fertility goddess Brigit and was concerned with the fertility of livestock and other pastoral matters. At that time, the family spent their time round the fire at home, which was the means of light, heat and cooking.
The main Spring festival is May Day, celebrated on May 1 and called Beltane, probably after the god of light Belenus; it may have been the other New Year Day besides Samhain. At this time, all household fires were extinguished and great bonfires were kindled on hilltops, whose embers were taken and used to light the home fires, which would never be extinguished till next Beltane.
On August 1, the festival of Lughnasadh, or Lamas, was celebrated. This was done in honor of the Sun god Lugh, at the time of the decline of summer into winter. Then the warriors returned from the fields of battle to begin harvesting the crops; throughout Gaelic lands this day was known as “the festival of first fruits”.
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