Nwywre Island

Celtic

A BRIEF HISTORY
The true origins of the Celts lie deep in the mists of prehistory. They were a loosely-knit group of tribes, with connective elements of a common culture and a common language. Traces of these date back to the final stages of the Hallstatt culture (c. 700-500 BC), which was based in the area around Upper Austria and Bavaria. By the sixth century BC, Greek authors wrote of a people called the 'keltoi' in southern France and, a century later, Herodotus located them in the region around the Danube. In time, their settlements stretched from Turkey and the Balkans right across to western Europe. At the peak of their power, they were strong enough to sack both Rome (386 BC) and Delphi (279 BC). The memory of these victories was soon eclipsed, however, by the rise of the Roman Empire. Here, the lack of cohesion between the various Celtic tribes proved fatal. One by one, they were overrun or expelled from their territories. Eventually, they were pushed back to the western fringes of the continent.

All culture developed originally from the people's relationship with the particular land they live on. Today, culture is as important as it ever was, for it gives us an expression of being which is in harmony with the land, other people of like mind and the forces of the natural world. Culture is a way of life; there is still a thriving cultural tradition within the Gaidhealtachd, although like other Celtic 'fringes' it has become rather marginalised in its forms of expression - musical, linguistic, and so on.
The Celts were a fascinating people. At one time they stretched from the Balkans all the way to the British Isles. Most of what we know about them comes from archeological evidence and from the traditions passed down through the Irish, Scottish, and Welsh peoples. They first appear in history during the Iron Age. Their name is derived from the Greek Keltoi. These Celts, also called Gauls (in what is modern day France) or Galatians (of Biblical fame), were one of the most feared "barbarian" people. Their behavior in battles appeared chaotic to the "civilized" Greeks and Romans. One of their more infamous practices was of cutting off their opponents head and keeping it as a "souvenir" or war trophy.

With the coming of Christianity, the Celts were slowly receptive to the new religion. Not until St. Patrick converted the Irish in the 6th century did a large amount of the Irish Celts convert to Christianity. With his missionary work, St. Patrick opened a floodgate of new converts that practiced a Celticized version of Christianity. This "Celtic" way centered on monasteries rather than in urban centers as the Roman way had, primarily because Ireland did not have such large urban centers. Mostly because of these monasteries, we have our Classical heritage. Monastic scribes in such monasteries as Lindisfarne (renowned for its Lindisfarne gospels), hand copied thousands of texts at a time many scholars call the Dark Ages, a time of constant warfare and a decline in civility and literacy. These monks held the future of the Western heritage literally in the palms of their hands.
One of the more intriguing aspects of the Celts are the people known as the Druids. The Druids were a sort of "jack-of-all-trades" within Celtic society. They performed religious rituals, were the wise men (and women) of their clans, and performed various legal functions such as judges. They are a difficult group within the Celts to describe with much certainty. Some scholars believe that with the coming of Christianity, the Druids retained their status no longer as Druids, but as the new literate and intelligent monks.
A way of life that survived for centuries in these isles is rapidly being lost before a torrent of mass consumerism, and an individualistic society, where 'dog eat dog' is the rule, and where the power of the State is so great that it shapes your very thoughts and life-style. We would like to think there is an alternative to all this, that the old values of clan and family can still be followed. We have much to learn from our Celtic ancestors, and keeping alive our culture and social customs is one very important aspect of this.

Animals
Celtic Art & Poetry
Folklore & Adornment
Journey Legends
Calendar The Celtic Music
Druids
Encyclopedia of the Celts
Links
Warrior Feat Social Structure
Weapons
Lands
Language and Celt meaning
Other

Social Structure
The social structure of Bronze Age Celtic society was highly developed. It was, nevertheless, a tribal society, bonded together by an all-encompassing system of laws and social customs, known as the Brehon Laws, which lasted intact for centuries.
FAMILY - the extended family ('fine' or 'clann') was the basic social unit, consisting of several generations of descendants from one ancestor. When several families settled in a particular territory they formed a 'tuath', ruled over by a chieftain or a petty king. There were about 150 tuatha, or kingdoms, in ancient Ireland.
KINSHIP - The kinship group, and not the individual, was all important under Brehon law. The kinship group was responsible for the actions of all its members. 'Eric fine' had to be paid by the whole family on behalf of any transgressors of the law. Kinship also ensured a right to shares in any family inheritance (known as 'derbhfine')
HEARTH - The hearth was of central importance in Celtic society, and its foundation was the contract of handfasting. Within the hearth the woman's authority was absolute. The hearth was the centre of much activity, where many traditional crafts were carried out; it also provided warmth and nourishment, it was a gathering place for storytelling and music, and it had to be an open place of hospitality to all.
HOSPITALITY - A very important aspect of Celtic life. Both the hosts and the guests were expected to observe certain social customs. THE HOSTS had to provide food, drink, a warm bed if possible, and entertainment. They had to give the very best they had; not to do so was a gross insult. Once the guests had partaken of the hearth's hospitality, the hosts were obliged to refrain from any violence or quarrelling with them, for the guests were under the protection of the dun from then on.
THE GUESTS would be expected to make an offering to the hearth of cakes, bread, wine etc. according to their ability. They must show respect to the hosts and not cause quarrels, fights or disruptions during their stay. They would normally be expected to sing a song, play a tune, or tell a tale.
BREHON LAWS - The Brehon laws were responsible for regulating a large part of social life even in ways that would fall outside the legal system of today. The laws set out codes of behaviour that all members of a blood family had to adhere to. Within Celtic society there existed a clearly defined system of rank or caste (which was transient) - serfs/ peasants; freemen/craftsmen; warriors; nobles; kings and priesthood. The Brehons, or judges, were of the Druid priesthood caste. If they made ill-judgements they were expected to forfeit their fee and pay damage costs. Codes of behaviour and levels of responsibility were laid down in the laws for each caste. The higher ranks had the most restrictions placed on them.
STATUS - This was largely determined by the ownership of cattle (there was no concept of land ownership in early Celtic society). Leases of livestock were granted to the tribe by the nobility in return for loyalty.
HONOUR PRICE - A strange mutual dependence existed between nobles and their clients. The status of a nobleman depended on the number of clients he leased cattle to. The client, however, gave up any status in law except through his creditor. Hence, creditors gave legal protection to their clients (known as their 'honour price'). Honour prices were central to the operation of the Brehon laws, and clients would seek out creditors with the highest status, to gain the highest honour price.
TUATH - Beyond a family member's particular tuath, or tribal land, they could not normally be guaranteed legal protection, unless formerly agreed between tuatha.
KINGSHIP - The king was the key element of the social structure. He was responsible for harmony between the tribe and the land, and also for the prosperity of the tribe. He had to be generous; if he was niggardly he would suffer the poet's satire (a formidable weapon in Celtic society) and have his kingship taken from him. The king was responsible for the redistribution of wealth in his kingdom, by means of banquets and donating gifts.
FAIRS, FESTIVALS AND BANQUETS - These were important occasions which brought together all strata of society. Participation in the festivities was compulsory! (Not to enjoy the life you had been given was an insult). Guests were seated according to rank. The "champion's portion" was awarded to the warrior who showed the greatest courage. To hold a good banquet was to gain much prestige. It was important to invite the 'aes dana' (people of the arts - bards, musicians, etc. ) Songs were sung, legends retold, and clan genealogies recited. Also, at festivals, settlements and judgements of legal cases were made, and handfasting contracts signed. However, no enmity must exist, no debt must be collected and no weapon must be lifted.