Cead Mile Failte!

Greetings and welcome to the TribeOfCelts! We are a community that is dedicated to not only honoring, but also educating the world about the great peoples that were the Celts. And not only the Celts of Eire and Albion with whom more people familiar, but we also want to explore the peoples that were spread across most of Europe who were also considered Celtic people.

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We have two different levels of membership at the moment!

Everyone starts in the "luchd-turais" membership level. These are deviants who just watch and learn from the background. The second level is the "coimhearsnachd" membership level. Once a member has submitted a piece of artwork, they will be moved up to this category. Check the box at the bottom of our journal to see where you stand!

PLEASE NOTE: Our mission statement is to educate others through art. This is not simply an art sharing community; we have a purpose behind our art. If you are only interested someone else reposting your art and are not interested in learning or teaching, this club is not for you. PLEASE read the submission policy first!

Submission Policy: A must read for everyone!
Recommended Reading and Links

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Happy Spring Equinox everyone! And Happy Ostara to any of those who may celebrate it!

Hopefully you've noticed that there's been some more activity around here lately, and we're trying really hard to keep it that way! I (*TheArcher777) have been able to find more time in my schedule to try and pay better attention to my responsibilities, despite the quickly approaching college graduation. So close and yet so far!

A request has been sent to us by *Ancient-Hoofbeats to help decipher a puzzle of sorts that she believes may have some Celtic meanings behind it. Please take a look at her journal here: [link]

In light of the new season, I though I may drop a word or two in about speculations of how the Celt's may have celebrated the the coming of spring. Generally, they celebrated this closer to the beginning of what we know as February. The festival is commonly know as Imbolc, Imbolg, or Oimelc, in Ireland. It is one of four principal festivals of the year. Here are a few short readings on it:

From Wikipedia.com:
Pre-Celtic Origins
That Imbolc was an important time to the ancient inhabitants of Ireland can be seen at a number of Megalithic and Neolithic sites, such as at the Loughcrew burial mounds and the Mound of the Hostages in Tara, Ireland. Here, the inner chamber of the passage tombs are perfectly aligned with the rising sun of both Imbolc and Samhain. Similar to the phenomena seen at Newgrange, the rising Imbolc sun shines down the long passageway and illuminates the inner chamber of the tomb.

Celtic Celebrations
Evidence of how Imbolc was celebrated in Ireland derives from ancient Celtic manuscripts that mention the festival, and folklore collected during the 19th and early 20th century in rural Ireland and Scotland. This material is also compared with studies of similar customs in Scandinavia, and customs maintained up till the present day in the Celtic nations and the Irish and Scottish diasporas.[6][7]

Among agrarian peoples, Imbolc has been traditionally associated with the onset of lactation of ewes, soon to give birth to the spring lambs. Chadwick notes that this could vary by as much as two weeks before or after the start of February.[8] However, the timing of agrarian festivals can vary widely, given regional variations in climate. This has led to some debate about both the timing and origins of the festival.

In Irish, Imbolc (pronounced im'olk) from the Old Irish, meaning "in the belly" (i mbolg), referring to the pregnancy of ewes, and is also a Celtic term for spring. Another name is Oimelc, meaning "ewe's milk". Some Celts and Neopagans shorten the name to Brigid, referring to the Celtic goddess of healing, poetry and smithcraft, to whom the day is sacred.[9]

The holiday is a festival of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring. Rituals often involve hearthfires, special foods, divination or simply watching for omens (whether performed in all seriousness or as children's games), a great deal of candles, and perhaps an outdoor bonfire if the weather permits.

From Chalice Centre.net:
The First of February belongs to Brigid, (Brighid, Brigit, Bride,) the Celtic goddess who in later times became revered as a Christian saint. Originally, her festival on February 1 was known as Imbolc or Oimelc, two names which refer to the lactation of the ewes, the flow of milk that heralds the return of the life-giving forces of spring. Later, the Catholic Church replaced this festival with Candlemas Day on February 2, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and features candlelight processions. The powerful figure of Brigid the Light-Bringer overlights both pagan and Christian celebrations.

In most parts of the British Isles, February is a harsh and bitter month. In old Scotland, the month fell in the middle of the period known as Faoilleach, the Wolf-month; it was also known as a’ marbh mhiòs, the Dead-month. But although this season was so cold and drear, small but sturdy signs of new life began to appear: Lambs were born and soft rain brought new grass. Ravens begin to build their nests and larks were said to sing with a clearer voice.

In Ireland, the land was prepared to receive the new seed with spade and plough; calves were born, and fishermen looked eagerly for the end of winter storms and rough seas to launch their boats again. In Scotland, the Old Woman of winter, the Cailleach, is reborn as Bride, Young Maiden of Spring, fragile yet growing stronger each day as the sun rekindles its fire, turning scarcity into abundance. (More of this article can be found here: [link]).


There is PLENTY more information to be found on this topic around the net, so please feel free to look up some on your own! And once again, anyone who wishes to submit a deviation to the club based on this topic will be featured in the journal!

Until Next Time,
-*TheArcher777


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Created by *TheArcher777 and =Lindowyn