Origins of Hallowe’enOrigins of Hallowe’en

Celtic Samhain Celtic Samhain

and and

Catholic Day of the DeadCatholic Day of the Dead

Who Were the Celts?Who Were the Celts?

The Celts were the Iron Age (ca. 1000 BC until The Celts were the Iron Age (ca. 1000 BC until the Roman conquest in 52 BC) inhabitants of the Roman conquest in 52 BC) inhabitants of Europe, whose homeland was Eurasia. Europe, whose homeland was Eurasia.

Celts shared a linguistic tradition, a similar Celts shared a linguistic tradition, a similar suite of economic skills (horse and cattle suite of economic skills (horse and cattle raising, farming, gardening, hunting & raising, farming, gardening, hunting & fishing), a variety of political formations that fishing), a variety of political formations that valued democracy, and a religious tradition valued democracy, and a religious tradition with deep roots in European prehistory.with deep roots in European prehistory.

Geographical Extent of Indo-Geographical Extent of Indo-European PeoplesEuropean Peoples

Map of Indo-European migrations, 4000 to 1000 BC. • The purple area corresponds to the assumed homeland. • The red area corresponds to the area probably settled by Indo-European-speaking peoples up to ca. 2500 BC, and• The orange area was settled by 1000 BC.

Indo-European Languages

Geographical Extent of Celtic Geographical Extent of Celtic PeoplesPeoples

http://www.csupomona.edu/~jcclark/ogham/ogh-orig.html

Celtic Social StructureCeltic Social Structure Several social classes including farmers, merchants, artisans, Several social classes including farmers, merchants, artisans,

administrators, clergyadministrators, clergy An aristocracy of two orders: knights (An aristocracy of two orders: knights (equitesequites) and others with ) and others with

special talents who governed and did not take up armsspecial talents who governed and did not take up arms These particularly gifted people were then educated to take up These particularly gifted people were then educated to take up

one of three roles:one of three roles: BardsBards composed and chanted hymns and were ‘diplomats’ composed and chanted hymns and were ‘diplomats’

who collected and carried informationwho collected and carried information VatesVates or Prophets gave sacrifices, studied nature in an effort to or Prophets gave sacrifices, studied nature in an effort to

presage, and served as local ‘clerics’ presage, and served as local ‘clerics’ DruidsDruids were moral philosophers and the embodiment of were moral philosophers and the embodiment of

justice in the Celtic community, ‘judges’justice in the Celtic community, ‘judges’

Druids in Popular CultureDruids in Popular Culture

Celts were Great WarriorsCelts were Great Warriors

Women fought alongside men

Celts sold carbon steel weapons to the Romans beginning ca. 300 BC

Celtic warriors believed in the afterlife and did not fear for their lives

Celts, naked and painted blue, were fierce in battle

Celtic Styles and Motifs Endure Celtic Styles and Motifs Endure after defeat by the Romans and the Appearance of after defeat by the Romans and the Appearance of

ChristianityChristianity

Syncretism is the attempt to reconcile disparate, even opposing, beliefs and to meld practices of various schools of thought. It is especially associated with the attempt to merge several originally discrete traditions, especially in religion, and thus assert an underlying unity.

Druids and the ImaginationDruids and the Imagination

Celtic Calendar:Celtic Calendar:The Wheel of the YearThe Wheel of the Year

Two divisions, each of four equal quarters, marked the pastoral and agricultural year

Coligny calendar

Samhain marks the Celtic New Year and entry into the year’s dark half. It is the time for taking stock and for honoring the year’s dead. At midnight the Crack Between the Worlds opens and the souls of the old year’s dead pass through.

In Catholic tradition, the following Day of the Dead is marked by family feasting on the graves of the departed.

Gaulish Celtic PolitiesGaulish Celtic Polities

The Druids’Annual Gathering The Druids’Annual Gathering In the Land of the CarnutesIn the Land of the Carnutes

““These assemble at a fixed period of the year in a consecrated place in the territories of the Carnutes, which is These assemble at a fixed period of the year in a consecrated place in the territories of the Carnutes, which is reckoned the central region of the whole of Gaul. Hither all, who have disputes, assemble from every part, and reckoned the central region of the whole of Gaul. Hither all, who have disputes, assemble from every part, and submit to their decrees and determinations.” submit to their decrees and determinations.”

Julius Caesar DBG 6.13Julius Caesar DBG 6.13

Chartres CathedralChartres Cathedral

The Maze in Chartres CathedralThe Maze in Chartres Cathedral

The Celtic Severed Head CultThe Celtic Severed Head Cult

Roqueperteuse, southern France

“Janus” heads look toward the worlds of the living and the dead

Watch Out!Watch Out!The Past is in the PresentThe Past is in the Present