Celts believed in life after death and nature spirits. They also sacrificed weapons and worshiped springs. The Celtic calendar contained thirteen months with an additional day. Day began after sunset, while night began with darkness. Worries were heightened by the sun's weakening strength in winter. This prompted early man to light winter fires to aid the sun's journey.
Celts believed there was life after death
Celtic belief in a life after the death is based upon the belief that the soul lives on in the next realm. Some believe that the soul returns back to the figure associated with the ancestral ancestor. Similar to the belief in the Romans living underworld, this belief is also common. However, Lucan used the word orbis to refer to an alternate world. However, it is not clear whether these ideas are based on fact or fiction.
Early Celts also believed in a life after death. However, they believed in very little in terms of ethics. They also didn't believe in the punishment of the gods. Romans wrote about Celtic beliefs and discovered 69 gods responsible for war. This suggests that some people would prefer a second life.
They worshipped nature spirits
The Celtic people worshiped nature spirits, especially those associated with fertility. They valued crops growing year after year and healthy cattle and sheep. Their belief in nature spirits was reflected in their religion, and many Celtic gods and goddesses were shaped like animals. They were the protectors and good luck of the Celts and embodied the elements.
Celtic religion also valued trees. The Celtics held groves sacred, and there are evidences of trees being worshipped in parts of Ireland. Some places have been named after trees such as Derry, which means "oak-tree") or Kildare (Cill Dara), which comes from a Celtic word that means oak tree.
They sacrificed weapons
One of most striking and peculiar features of Celtic religions is the fact they sacrificed their weapons. Around 150 examples of ancient Celtic weapons have been found at archaeological sites all over the globe. These weapons were made of bronze and were often sacrificed to gods. These temples were destroyed during the Roman occupation in 124 BCE. They are still not extinct.
The Celts were multitheistic and worshiped many gods. Some were only known in a certain area, while others were widely recognized. The gods favored those who would risk their lives for the good of others. Some were more powerful than others such as Lugus, the sun-representative goddess. Other goddesses were also associated with rivers or healing springs. Some were related to animals, like horses.
They believed that springs could be used to their advantage
Celts had a complicated belief system. They believed that all living beings have sentience. They saw the entire world as a wonderful, multilayered, dangerous, and often beautiful stage where all living things lived and died. Scholars often contradicted their beliefs, so it's important for you to understand what they meant.
Celts had a close relationship to the natural world. They often saw signs in animal behavior. They admired the beauty and virility that animals had and were open to a connection with their spirits. Horses and stags were their favorite animals for their endurance, speed and beauty. They also admired dogs and their keen smelling senses.
They worshipped effigies
Celts worshipped ineffigies as a way for them to show their devotion. Some people created enormous figures from sticks and then filled them with live humans. These effigies were also set ablaze by other Celts to pay homage to the gods. Romans outlawed these practices.
Celts believed there were supernatural beings, such as fairies. They believed the souls of the deceased were reincarnated and could pass from one body or another. This belief is evident in Celtic mythology concerning fairies.