Celts believed there was a life after death because they worshipped nature spirits. They also believed in springs and had their weapons sacrificed. The Celtic calendar had thirteen months plus one extra day. In this time period, day began after sunset and night began with the arrival of darkness. During the winter, the decreasing strength of the sun was a source of worry. This led early man to start winter fires in order to assist the sun's journey.
Celts believed in a life beyond death
Celtic belief in life after death was based on belief that the soul is still alive in the next universe. Many believe that the soul returns to its ancestral ancestor. This is similar to the belief of the Romans in the underworld. Lucan however used the term orbis to describe an alternative world. However, it is not clear whether these ideas are based on fact or fiction.
The existence of a life beyond death was also believed to be a belief of the Early Celts. They believed very little about ethics. They did not understand the concept of punishing the gods. The Romans wrote about Celtic beliefs, and found 69 or more gods who were 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 healthy cattle and sheep, and crops that grew year after year. Their belief in nature spirits was reflected by their religion. Many Celtic gods or goddesses were shaped as animals. They were the protectors and good luck of the Celts and embodied the elements.
Celtic religion also valued trees. Celtics revered groves as sacred and there are evidences that trees were worshipped elsewhere in 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 offered their lives for weapons
The fact that the Celtic religion required them to sacrifice their weapons is one of its most unique and striking features. Around 150 examples of ancient Celtic weapons have been found at archaeological sites all over the globe. The weapons were often made of bronze, and they were sacrificed to a god. These temples were destroyed in Rome by the Romans in 124, but they are not gone.
The Celts were polytheistic and worshiped many gods and goddesses. Some were very specific to a certain region, while others were more universally known. The gods favored those who would risk their lives for the good of others. Some were more powerful than others, such as Lugus, who represented the sun. Other goddesses were associated to rivers and healing springs. Some were related to animals, like horses.
They believed springs were for them
Celts had a complicated belief system. They believed that all living organisms had sentience and a spirit. They saw the entire world as a wonderful, multilayered, dangerous, and often beautiful stage where all living things lived and died. Scholars often refuted their beliefs and practices, so it is important to determine what they meant.
Celts were very close to nature and saw signs in animal behavior. They admired animal attributes, such as beauty and virility, and associated the spirits with them. They loved horses and stags because of their beauty, speed, endurance, and speed. They also admired dogs and their keen smelling senses.
They worshipped effigies
As a way of showing their devotion to their gods, the Celts worshipped effigies. Others made huge figures out of sticks and filled them with live people. To pay respect to the gods, other Celts set the effigies alight. Romans prohibited these practices.
Celts believed also in the existence supernatural beings, including fairies. The Celts believed that the soul of the deceased could reincarnate and pass from one body to the next. This belief can be seen in Celtic mythology, which is about fairies.