#Gaelic mythology

[kung-fu-grandma]

It'd be cool to come up with Pagan alternatives to the days of the week in the Gaelic languages, since the current ones have such Christian meanings

DiLuain can stay since moon worship is a thing, but perhaps we might change the Latin to "Latha na Gealaich"?

DiMairt could be "Latha na Mhór-ribhinne" (The Morrigan's Day) in keeping with the "M" sound of "Mairt"

DiCiadain needs to go since it refers to a Christian fast, so why not make it Latha an Daghdha? (A sort of oblique reference to Wednesday being "Wodan's Day" in English perhaps?

DiarDaoin again refers to fasts, so maybe "Latha Lùgha"?

DihAoine, another fast, so how about "Latha Aoidh" since it sounds kinda similar to "aoin"?

DiSathairne isn't Christian so much as the wrong kind of pagan, so I'm not against leaving it as is, but as long as we're going with new names, why not "Latha Manannain"?

DiDòmhnaich is perhaps the most explicitly Christian, but since we have "Latha na Gealaich" already, I propose substituting "Latha na Gréine"

I was obviously a bit inspired by the Germanic names here, but I'm curious to see what everyone else's thoughts are! I came up with these off the top of my head, so I make no guarantees about their appropriateness or linguistic accuracy (I'm a Gaelic learner, not a fluent speaker).

#gaelpol #gaelic polytheism #gaelic paganism #scottish gaelic #gàidhlig #gaidhlig #paganism #pagan #an dagda #the morrigan #lugh #aed #manannan mac lir #ireland #irish mythology #gaelic mythology

[hell-yeah-satanism]

Heres a note: dont tag any of my e offerings to gods i worship as “for me??” Even if you share a name, if you dont understand dont reblog end of

You wouldnt do this with a Christian god, dont do it for pagan gods

#paganism #satanism #satan #theistic satanism #religion #norse mythology #ave satanas #theistic satanist #fenrir #devil #fenris #celtic polytheism #celtic paganism #celtic witchcraft #celtic mythology #gaelic paganism #gaelic #gaelic mythology #gaulish pagan #gaulish #gaulish polytheism #gaulish paganism

[lastromanticist]

A Call to all Celticist, Historians , Academics, Hobbyists ECT for a Edition of Cath Cnocha

Attached to this post are screenshot of a transcript of a now lost manuscript of the literary version of the Cath Cnucha (Battle of knock) known more famously from its older cousin the Fotha catha Cnucha. This transcription is from the Irish-American newspaper issues October 1884 to January 1885.

The transcription seems to present a version of the story of the battle between Tadg mac Nuada and Cumhall mac Trenmoir with detail not found elsewhere as well as information on the conception of Fionn Mac Cumhaill

The literary version of Cath Cnucha remains critically unedited, and as far as I am aware outside of manuscripts, this transcription is the only treatment it has gotten despite folk versions being widely available in publication. It is, in my opinion, a tragedy that this Fenian cycle text remains unavailable for the reading of the modern public. This leads me to a threefold request for all who are willing to listen. These are three fold , firstly to all those in the US with access to libraries that may contain this newspaper and its issues please check if these issues are in better condition and avaliable please transcribe what is illegible or damaged in the scanned copies. The publication issues with damaged or inaccessible text are

4th October 1884

11 October 1884

18th October 1884

6th December 1884

20th December 1884

If the missing portions of the transcription can be recovered it is my hopes to make them freely avaliable online for the end goal of it being easier.

For those who understand early modern Irish orthography, I ask you to aid in the transliteration what is here to modern Irish orthography. The second would be for translation into modern Irish which from there we could translate to English.

The end goal is to make a freely avaliable none critical edition of the text to at least allow it to be studied or enjoyed by a broader audience. I, however, lack the skill to do it myself and am seeking the aid of others in this endeavour. I am no trained celticist. I am simply a folklorist and historian who recognises his limits. Please reblog to spread the word. I understand this is unusual but I am passionate about the fenian cycle enough to pursue this.

For those currently pursuing a masters or doctorate in celtic studies an edition of Cath Cnocha would be valuable to the field according to me

These screenshots are based on the scans from the central research library and are damaged or incomplete. Each can be found on

#irish mythology #folklore #mythology #medieval #manuscript #early modern #please help #gaelic mythology #celtic #celtic mythology #legend #myth #academics #history #historian

[mask131]

Cold winter: Cailleach

CAILLEACH

Category: Gaelic mythology

The Cailleach is a very famous winter figure part of the Gaelic beliefs. “Cailleach” is a Gaelic word meaning “hag” or “old woman”, and it is the most common term to designate this entity – but in the details, she exists split between the two main Gaelic nations. In Scotland she is “Beira, the Queen of Winter”, while in Ireland she is the “Hag of Beara” (An Chailleach Bheara) ; both were originally one same divine figure, but who evolved in two different ways.

I) The Irish Cailleach

In Ireland, the Cailleach is called by some the Hag of Beara because it was said she lived in the Beara Peninsula (County Cork) ; some also call her the “Old Woman of Dingle” because it was said she was born in the city of the same name (County Kerry), at “Teach Mor”, the “Great House”, said to be the house at the further western point of Ireland, on the Dingle promontory. A third of her Irish name is “The White Nun of Beara”, due to a literal reading of “cailleach”, which means “hooded one” or “veiled one” – this gave birth to a legend according to which the Hag wore a veil for a hundred years that had been given to her by Saint Cummine. Appearing in many pieces of Irish literature, the Hag is said to be an ancient entity – though not as old as Ireland itself, but still much older than most living beings – who actually regularly ages and then de-ages before aging again. It seems she always start as a youthful maiden, who “drinks mead and wine with kings”, before becoming a “wretched, shriveled old hag” – usually this aging process is tied to the May Day, implying that it might be a yearly process, as the Hag is young when winter is young, then ages until she becomes a sorrowful, lonely, rag-wearing hag by May Day (aka the end of the “dark season”/winter and the beginning of the “bright season”). But against this “yearly aging” is opposed another tradition that presents the Hag’s successive youths as being actually successive lifetimes – she ages like a regular human, but never dies and keeps regenerating herself. According to this tradition, the Hag is depicted as either the mother or the foster mother of the ancestors of today’s most prominent clans of Ireland: the usual numbers claim that she had fifty foster-children that she raised in Beara/Beare, that she lived seven human lives successfully, saw all of her husbands and lovers die of old age, and that she considers all the “tribes and races” of Ireland her “grandsons and great-grandsons”.

A notable landmark associated with her is a rock by the seashore, at Beara: this rock, called the “Hag of Beara” or the “Hag’s Chair”, is said to mark the location where the Hag waits for the return of Manannan mac Lir, the Irish god of the sea, who is for some her husband, for others her father. But people are conflicted as to what the rock actually is: for some it is the chair the Hag sits in while waiting for Manannan, but for others it is rather the fossilized remains of her body – she waited for so long that she turned to rock.  Numerous other locations in Ireland are associated with her, from the “Hag’s Head” (a bizarrely shaped rock on the Cliffs of Moher) to the “Calliagh Beara’s House”, the top of Slieve Gullion. In fact, a legend claims that there she tricked the mythical Irish warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill: as he was climbing the Slieve Gullion, he found a beautiful young lady crying by the shore of a lake, she claimed her golden ring had fallen into the lake – Fionn, being a true Irish gentleman, jumped into the lake, retrieved the ring and brought it back to the maiden… who had turn into an hideous laughing old hag – she was the Calliagh Berra, a wicked witch, and as Fionn came out of the lake, he saw that he too, from a beautiful young man, had turned into a withered old man. No one in his clan recognized him when he returned – only his faithful hounds recognized his smell, and as the clan realized who he was, they hunted down the witch and forced her to restore his youth. But ever since, Fionn kept his hair white, and it is said that anyone who bathes into the lake will have the same aging curse the hero suffered from.

Various texts give her various names: for some her true name is Digdi/Didge, for others she is Milucra, a third calls her Birog… And one story, “The Hunt of Slieve Cuilin” declares that she has a sister, who is none other than Aine, the Irish goddess of summer and the sun. Finally her association with witchcraft is reinforced by the fact that sorceresses are called “cailleach phiseogach”, while “wise women/fortune-tellers” are “cailleach feasa”.

2) The Scottish Cailleach

While the Irish Cailleach is a more diffuse, unclear and mysterious figure scattered throughout poetic and literary works, the Scottish version of the Hag is much more defined thanks to folklorist work.  

Called “Beira” or “The Queen of Winter”, she is here depicted as a one-eyed giantess with white hair, a dark blue skin, and teeth the color of rust: it is said she brought to existence many of the mountains and hills of Scotland, either by accident (she carried stones in a creel or wicker basket, and they fell out), or willingly (so that she could use them as stepping stones ; and it is said she carries with her a hammer to shape the hills and valleys). Said to be the mother of all the Scottish gods and goddesses, she is an embodiment of winter who has her own herd of deer and owns a staff that is able to freeze the ground it touches. She causes winter by going to the western coast of Scotland and washing there her great plaid in the Gulf of Corryvreckan (which is literally the Gulf of the Cauldron of the Plaid): it takes her three days to wash her plaid, and during these three days the roar of an incoming storm can be heard. After the three days, her plaid is freshly white: she covers the land with it – it is the snow. Another very important day is “La Fheill Brighde”, the 1st of February, Saint Brigid’s Day, halfway between the winter solstice and spring equinox: on this day, Beira gathers her firewood for the rest of winter, so if she plans on having a long winter (because she is the one who controls it), she will make the 1st of February a bright and sunny day so that she can gather a lot of firewood, to keep herself warm ; but if the weather is bad on Saint Brigid’s day, it either means that she knows the winter will soon be over, or that she overslept and due to the lack of firewood will shorten winter.

Her presence on Saint Brigid’s day is extremely important, as Saint Brigid is the Christianized version of an older Gaelic deity, Brighde, with who the Cailleach/Beira was associated: whereas Beira ruled the world during the “dark season”, between Samhain on the 1st of November (first day of winter) to Beltaine (1st of May, first day of summer), Brighde/Brigid ruled it during the “bright season” of summer. For some, the two entities are separate goddesses, and the Winter Queen “pass on” her power to her summer counterpart between Saint Brigid’s Day and Beltane (1st of May) ; some versions rather claim that at the end of winter, the Cailleach turns to stone, as the petrification of the divine hag is the only way to let summer come. But a different tradition rather claims that Beira and Brighde are two faces of one same goddess, who changes name and appearance depending on the season: according to this tradition, on the winter solstice (also known as “the longest night”), the reign of Beira as the Queen of Winter stops. She goes to a magical Well of Youth and drink its water – from then on, as the days grow longer, Beira will grow younger, until she finally becomes again the maiden Brigid and the Queen of Summer. But as the summer months go by, Brigid will age again – and when she is an old hag again, it is time for Beira the Queen of Winter to return.

The Ben Nevis mountain was said to be the throne of Beira, while the two mountains of the Isle of Skye were named the “mountains of the Cailleach” because strong rains and brutal storms regularly descended from them onto the lands below. She is also associated with Ben Cruachan, to the point she is sometimes called “Cailleach nan Cruachan”, “The Hag of Ben Cruachan”. She also apparently created by accident the Loch Awe: tired after a long day of herding deer, the Cailleach fell asleep on the Ben Cruachan, and a well she usually took care of overflowed during her nap and flowed the valley nearby, creating the loch.

A final point: some Scottish legends multiply the Cailleach into the “Cailleachan”, the Old Women/the Hags – also called the Storm Hags. These destructive spirits of nature were said to be responsible for the violent windstorms of spring.

- - - - - -

There is also a tradition, shared by both Scotland and Ireland, according to which the first farmer finishing the harvest of the grain has to make a corn dolly. This corn dolly is supposed to represent the Cailleach, and is sometimes called the “Carlin/Carline” (a word from the Lowland Scots, meaning “old woman” or “witch”, and which itself is derived from the Gaelic Cailleach). Made out of the last sheaf of the crop, this “Old Woman doll” is then tossed into the field of another farmer who hasn’t finished his harvest of grain: when the farmer is done, he promptly has to toss it into the field of another one who hasn’t finished – and so forth until the last to finish his harvest gets stuck with the doll. This poor farmer will be forced to take the “Old Woman” into his home and to take care of the doll for the entire year – which is literally housing, feeding and treating as a guest the witch/hag during the entirety of winter. (Given the hag herself is supposed to embody winter… not a great thing). It was a true competition among harvesters, all wanting to avoid the punishment of having to invite the witch of winter into their house.

#cailleach #cold winter #beira #queen of winter #gaelic mythology #irish folklore #irish mythology #scottish folklore #beara

[thestarlightforge]

Tired: Homework at a reasonable hour

Wired: Snowbaird AU Wedding (including full playlist and handfasting vows, adapted from Catching Fire) 😌

#snowbaird au #fanfic writing #fanfiction writing #tbosas fanfiction #tbosas #the ballad of songbirds and snakes #ballad of songbirds and snakes #the hunger games #gaelic mythology #scottish mythology #scottish music #irish music #the covey #lucy gray baird #coriolanus snow #lucy gray x coriolanus #coriolanus x lucy gray

[princess-ibri]

Tiny Godmother Backstory for the Bear Witch from Brave cuz why not she kinda counts

Real name is Mathanag

She was raised as a druidess, long before the Romans invaded

Her particular devotion was to an ancient bear goddess, hence her proclivity for bear based spells and carvings, and it is from this source she derives her power and longevity

(There are a few attested Celtic bear goddesses though I couldn't find a Scottish Gaelic name for one, but ones mentioned were named Andarta and Artio)

She is centuries old, having seen the rise and fall of many kingdoms and traditions

She knows about the other worlds and has had many dealings with the denizens of Elfhame, one of the sub realms that exists between the Everrealm and Our World.

#my art #disney #DisneyVerse #brave #the bear witch #brave witch #pixar brave #disney headcanons #celtic mythology #gaelic mythology #godmother backstory

[losttimpactt]

Mythological Deer - Sianech

“A large carnivorous deer described as a monster with sharp teeth and glowing hooves and eyes, it hunts and preys on humans.”

🔴 KO-FI

⚫ COMMISSION INFO

#art #myth deer #deer #cervid #cervidae #cervine #red deer #gaelic mythology

[catsconflictscopicsandchamomile]

Finally getting my new laptop set up and will be able to write fic again soon (my current 2018 mac freezes when I run word, and has a habit of eating documents).

#fanfic #fanfic author #fanfiction #spn fic #supernatural #supernatural fic #dean winchester #sam winchester #castiel #jack kline #destiel #john winchester #good omens #crowley good omens #The Fae #the Fair Folk #celtic mythology #gaelic mythology #irish mythology #whump #angst #hurt-comfort #mythology #foklore #the boys #the boys mythology au #mythology au #soldier boy #monster movie #creature feature

[thelemoncoffee]

there's this song i've been listening too alot lately that i really enjoy and it's got a story to it that i think would be a fun au concept.

the songs itself is "Taglio!" by S.J. Tucker, and it contains these mythological creatures called Gaselli. in their own context Gaselli are just a Gazelle Satyr/Faun variant, but Tucker ended up giving the song versions the lore of this fae called the Baobhan Sith. THOSE mfs are women with hooves and claws who dress in green and use their claws to break the skin of your neck so they can drink your blood (gaelic vampire basically)

So, the Gaselli in the song are presented as these green clad Satyr/Faun like creatures who tend animals and make bonfires at night to dance around, but they don't eat their livestalk and rather people they pick off from travaling bands by inviting them to dance and play music with them. Taglio, the character the song is named after, is an acception Gaselli who likes animal meat more than human blood, and the whole song is basically the singer going "if you get caught up with these Gaselli, you better hope the one who you're dancing with is Taglio, cause he's the only one who will let you live"

Okay! we got the song context? Now that, but make it Saiouma.

It could be a set up where Kokichi is a Gaselli who's got the same kinda lifestyle as Taglio; not interested in eating humans and prefers animal meat. but also like- it's Kokichi, so of course he'd be a little shit about keeping that fact hidden from anyone he messes with for as long as he can. Shuichi on the other hand is a human who got swept up by the Gaselli, and while to him it feels like the best luck in the world for him to have ended up being pushed around and invited to dance with the singular safe one that night, it was absolutly planned.

Kokichi saw a pretty human he really really liked, and in all his trickstery wisdom decided to fuck with the guy just so he could spend time with him and get to know him before his human band packes up and leaves their feild to travel more. What he does about that traveling bit if he gets too emotionally attached is up to y'all

#danganronpa #ndrv3 #danganronpa v3 #kokichi ouma #shuichi saihara #saiouma #au prompt #au idea #au #gaelic mythology #gaselli #Taglio #Highkey recomend the song it scratches this itch in my brain i didn't know was there #kai prompts

[lennertlivet]

Making my debut as a comic book writer. The first project has already been funded, but I'm still trying to attract a bigger audience of interested people to make sure this project actually has some longevity!

#dark fantasy #independent comics #comic writer #dungeons and dragons #gaelic mythology #fantasy comics #female protagonist #crowdfunding

[sadbhkellett]

Over the moon to be able to share this essay on the seriously overlooked work of Meath poet Francis Ledwidge.

#Aimsir Press #Francis Ledwidge #Lúnasa #Irish writer #sadbh kellett #irish mythology #irish poetry #poemblr #irish #writing #gaelic mythology #irish literary journal #Irish Revival #Irish revolution #world war 1 #First World War #War poetry #Meath #Aimsir #Yeats #1916 #Easter 1916

[hell-yeah-satanism]

the dagda e offering

#gaelic mythology #gaelpol #gaelic paganism #gaelic #an daghna #the dagda #celtic paganism #celtic polytheism #celtic witchcraft #celtic #celtic mythology

[lastromanticist]

Cath Cnocha Update #1

No luck on finding a complete version of the text from Irish American, but D.H Kelly, according to catalogue entries, made a translation of a manuscript version into English that has never been published. So Gonna look at it and see if I can edit his english translation and publish it online ...side note , tons of untranslated fenian material in general seems to have been personally translated by kelly that I might also look at

#irish mythology #gaelic mythology #antiquitarianism #still just a hobbyist #please help me

[aislynndmerricksson]

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Maggie Stiefvater’s The Scorpio Races is a unique YA take on the Gaelic mythology of the water horse, about a dangerous race that takes place on the island of Thisby every November. The story is narrated by two protagonists, Sean Kendrick and Puck Connolly, both of whom are determined to win the race for different reasons. The Scorpio Races is beautifully written. Stiefvater’s lyrical writing…

View On WordPress

#archetypes #author #book #book review #Books #Death #Each uisge #fantasy #Gaelic mythology #growth #heroine #legends #life #loss #myths #novel #paranormal #Review #Scorpio Races #Scottish mythology #water horse

[kung-fu-grandma]

Semi-regular reminder that Gaelic polytheism is not a closed practice. You do not need to be from Ireland, Scotland, or Man or have any “Celtic blood” to worship the Gods, Ancestors, and Spirits

Anyone who tells you different is misinformed at best or probably a racist at worst

#gaelpol #gaelic paganism #gaelic polytheism #irish mythology #irish polytheism #irish paganism

[ceo-draiochta]

Traits Based on Your Day of Birth in Medieval Irish Tradition

In the Leabhar Uí Mhaine there is a text which ascribes certain traits and fates to someone based on the day of the week they were born(Source)

Monday:

He who is born on Monday, his wealth in cattle will be good, there will be a blemish on his face, he will not be sharp, he will be generous, many culdees* will sing his requiem, and repentance will come to him before death

Tuesday:

He who is born on Tuesday, drowning will carry him off, great will be his wealth in small cattle, his power will not be strong, he will be a favourite with women and dogs.

Wednesday:

He who is born on Wednesday, a blemish on his body, he will die a bloody death, his speech will be venomous, he will be hated, he will be a powerful plunderer, he will do a dire deed before death.

Thursday:

He who is born on Thursday will die at Vespers**, either by a swoon or a fright, he will be longlived, he will be loving, he will have many children, whatever may be the art he may exercise, he will be good in it, he will be harsh.

Friday:

He who is born on Friday, he will have a death of repentance, he will be covetous, he will have wealth of gold and silver, his tribe and race will serve him, he will be bloody, he will be rich in the praise from men

Saturday:

He who is born on Saturday, fever and a bowel-disease will carry him off, great will be his dignity, he will do evil deeds, he will be venomous, he will be a parricide, he will do many slaughters, he will lead a licentious life.

Sunday:

He who is born on Sunday will be longlived, his life will be happy, he will have wealth in the world, he will be in favour with kings and erenaghs, great will be his power, his profit in his own hands.

*Culdees being similar to Monks **Vespers being evening prayers

#irish paganism #celtic paganism #gaelic paganism #ireland #resources #mine #draíocht #irish mythology #draoí #This is a pretty late text I think so don't take it too seriously ok? #gaelpol