Irish Mythology

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Permalink Reply by JA Laflin on June 20, 2009 at 5:34

... I love the way that all world mythologies intersect. Anu is also the name of a primary sky god in babylonian mythology.... but in Celtic myth, a fertility goddess. I know on some level, its probably different, because I take this knowledge from texts transliterated from different languages into English... but still. Interesting...

Permalink Reply by Alexandre Boulet on December 10, 2009 at 22:29

very interesting Sónia Thank you very much.

Would you have any information about the Yule festival ?

Permalink Reply by Sónia on December 14, 2009 at 13:22

Hi Alex, never had heard before about the Yule festival, but reading your reply makes me curious so I made a search and find this poetry about the yule and what it means.

YULE*
The Dark of the Year
In the dark of the year,
When the holly berries glow,
The King of Winter rises,
From his slumber ‘neath the snow.

It's the Dark of the Year,
When all the world is cold.
It’s the Dark of the Year,
When the Ancient Ones grow bold.

Yuletide is a hallowed time,
When o’er the land the north winds wail.
Folk gather round the hearthside fire,
To hear the Elders tell their tale.

It's the Dark of the Year,
When all the world is cold.
It’s the Dark of the Year,
When the Ancient Ones grow bold.

And when the night is longest,
With the wild winter storm.
The Cailliach howls her rage
‘neath the twisted blackthorn.

It's the Dark of the Year,
When all the world is cold.
It’s the Dark of the Year,
When the Ancient Ones grow bold.

When all the tales are told,
And the raging storm has worn,
With the rising of the sun
The Solstice Child is born.

* Yule or Yuletide is the old Saxon word for Midwinter.
It was upon this old pagan ritual that modern Christmas is based.

Permalink Reply by Sónia on December 14, 2009 at 13:37

Also I have found a site called Circle Sanctuary - Community Yule Celebration.
Here is the link: http://www.circlesanctuary.org/yule/

Permalink Reply by Alexandre Boulet on December 14, 2009 at 15:26

HI Sónia thank you for this well felt poem. We really can feel the atmosphere of the festival trought it.

It will help me for my article in the Nuacht for this february. I will keep you posted.

Thank you also for this link on a celebration. Sound like a lot of fun... If it was not too far i might go....

Happy holiday or holyday ;) to you and merry xmass :)

Alexandre

Permalink Reply by Agnes on January 25, 2012 at 10:05

I'm interested in Irish mythology. I gave a very beautiful little Irish cross medal. It's made in Bakonybél (Hungary) by monks. What is the original meaning of the cross's symbols (circle, etc.)? Could you help me?