Celtic Culture

First things first. What does the picture of Stonehenge in the header have to do with the Celts, or Celtic Culture? According to many Archaeologists and Anthropologists everything and nothing! Some say

it was made by "an ancient race with advanced scientific knowledge". Others say it was a type of temple used in witchcraft, etc. However, carbon dating and other scientific facts place the building of Stonehenge right in the earliest part of the Celtic historical timeline of their presence in the British isles and Europe.

The jury is still out but it raises just SOME of the questions we will try to cover. Join us on our journey of discovery of the Celtics, the Celtic culture, Celtic art, Celtic music, their religion and more.

It has been found that Stonehenge and the other megalithic monuments long predate the Iron Age Celtic culture. However, genetic evidence indicates the Celtic populations of the Atlantic Archipelago have been relatively stable for at least 6,000+ years. If this is true then the modern Celts would be the direct descendants of the builders of Stonehenge! (Some information has come to light that the Celts burst onto the scene in Europe as far back as 12,000 years ago.)

Although there is no evidence that they actually used these sites as areas of worship from the Iron Age on. Most evidence suggests that the Druidic Celtic religion actually preferred to use groves of Oak trees as their natural places of worship.

A Timeless Tale Of Legends

To many the Celtic culture conjures up thoughts of ancient warriors, the hope of the Knights of King Arthur and the wonders of the magic of Merlin.

But it is so much more. Yet these wonderful people conquered the known world of the day. They have been recorded as far back as 2,800 years ago. Centuries before the Greek and Roman Empires ever existed.

Could they be the remnants of that ancient race known as the "Atlantians?" The first discovery of the Celts did start in that general region of the world where Atlantis was thought to have been.

Might the few survivors of that advanced race of people be the forefathers of what we now know as the Celts (pronounced Kelts)? Maybe time will tell, then again maybe we can only surmise and wonder!

The name "Celt" originated with the ancient Greeks who called these barbarian peoples of central Europe "Keltoi". Rather that being a broad cultural genetic "race", the Celts actually were a broad cultural/linguistic group. The areas in which they lived became a constantly changing collection of tribal "nations". You see the Celts, as we know them, were never an "empire" ruled by any one "central government". Instead they were a loose knit group with each "tribe" having its own "King and tribal counsels".

In 390 B.C. the Celts sacked Rome after having crossed the alps just a few years before. The Romans paid them a tribute of pure Gold to "leave their fair city alone and never come back!"

The lands occupied by Celtic peoples were far and wide. But where did they come from?

They were first discovered in the southern areas of what is now Portugal/Spain. It has been surmised by many that they are the remnants of the ancient race of people known, in anthropological circles, as the "Atlantians. They were so far advanced that one has to wonder!

They were the first to use steel swords making them almost invincible in battle. They were the first to use "mail" armor. They were the first to come up with a workable calendar, to design intricate instruments and work with blends of metal, iron and copper.

Where did they learn such skills 100's, sometimes 1,000's of years before any other race?

The Celts occupied land in what is now modern day Eastern Europe, Greece, Spain, Northern Italy, Western Europe, England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The Celtic people have continuously mystified anthropologists and historians for over a millennium.

The Celtic Culture and history was originally preserved ONLY through oral tradition as they were (supposedly) a non-literate culture - as far as history has thus shown. The only written records found that survived of their civilization are the few texts left by classical authors. Without a doubt thousands more records were destroyed during the "Dark Ages" - especially any records with references to witchcraft or the "lost arts". Unfortunately that ties to a lot of the ancient Celtic culture.

The first of the surviving records that was found was written around 500 B.C. Those accounts, inaccurate as they might have been are still very important. They demonstrated that the Celts came into cultural contact, and, more often than not, direct competition with the Greeks the Romans as well as many other established cultures.

The Celts were first mentioned in writing by the Greek Herodotus. This was after they had already spread over much of Alpine Europe and those areas that were immediately to the north. At that time they had already conquered much of central France and most of Spain.

This period has been associated with the Hallstat culture. They had also already started trade with many of the Mediterranean countries especially the Greek colony of Massalia (modern day Marseilles) when Herodotus first wrote about them.

For a timeline visit Celtic Timeline.

Since the dawn of its time the Celtic culture has been verbally passed down to its children. Each tribe had its own "Barb" (as they were called) who told the history of the Celts and passed it on verbally to others. Thus, because of this tradition, it has often been said that the original Celts were a race of people with little or no writing skills.

NOTE: Since most of the known world history was destroyed/burned during the "Dark Ages" this may, or may not, be totally true! Therefore, the learning, and memorizing process, was an essential characteristic of Celtic life and equally so was the teaching.

The way in which the culture is passed down through family lines, be it by art and craft, or music and tale, has, it is fair to say, been an important part of the continuing influence of the Celts. The Celts influence, throughout history, can best be recognized by the Celtic symbols that show in many cultures across the entire planet. even today the ancient arts of witchcraft still survive to fascinate, and bewilder, us all.

In a rush? Add me to your to your favorites so you can come back again and again and study the ever expanding informational resources we have to offer! 

Side Note: Please read the The Adventure Begins

It is an overview by Ron Dennis who started this site before falling ill. After Ron got the first few pages started on the Celtic Culture site he became very, very ill.

End Side Note

For a millennium it was by word of mouth that the history of all the cultures of the world survived. Today we can read books written by historians and scientists who present their arguments on Celtic history. These are presented by use of documentary evidence and archeological fact(s).

Thus, by its very nature, this history is an ever-evolving fountain of knowledge. All thanks to our ever increasing forensic abilities.

Remember, it wasn't THAT long ago that the citizens of the world once firmly believed it was flat. There was even plenty of hard facts and documentation proving it as being so!

So Come and Join us on our journey of discovery of the old ways and places of our distant relatives - before they came to America. We will have some fun and learn along the way. We will seek out and enjoy the treasures the Celtic Culture brings to us today.

My wish for you is the same as this old Celtic blessing:

May the most you wish for be the least you get.

May the best times you've ever had be the worst you will ever see.

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