There are many myths about the ancient Celts that portray them as warriors and fighters.
Their religion was deeply connected to nature, fertility, sexuality, and magic. Many scholars have researched these topics and provided evidence from archaeological finds and literary sources. In this article, I will discuss what sexual norms and symbols were central to Celtic religious rituals and how they were enacted in everyday life.
The Celtic people worshipped numerous gods, including Lugh, Brighid, Dagda, Nuada, Brigantia, Macha, and Morrigan. They believed in reincarnation and had a strong connection to the natural world. Their religious practices included prayers, offerings, sacrifices, feasts, music, storytelling, dance, and ritual sex. Sex was seen as a powerful force for creating new life and spiritual growth.
The most famous example of Celtic eroticism is the story of Cerridwen and Taliesin. In this tale, Cerridwen brews an elixir of knowledge and wisdom for her son, but he accidentally drinks it all. She curses him with ugliness and deafness until he grows up to be the great poet and seer Taliesin. The story suggests that sex can lead to transformation and rebirth.
Another example is the festival of Beltaine, celebrated on May 1st. It honors the god Belenos and celebrates the union of male and female energies. Women dressed as goddesses and men as gods during the festivities. There were also sexual rites, fertility dances, and the exchange of gifts between lovers. This shows that sexuality was intertwined with religion and community life.
In daily life, the Celts wore amulets with phallic symbols such as swans, snakes, and triskeles. These were believed to bring luck and protection from evil spirits. Marriages were arranged by parents or matchmakers and often involved large dowries. Divorce was allowed if there was adultery or abuse.
Some people chose to live together without marriage, which was acceptable in their culture.
The Celts had a complex and varied view of sexuality that encompassed ritual, magic, mythology, and everyday life. Their beliefs and practices demonstrate how sexual norms and symbols could be integrated into religious practice and communal traditions.
What sexual norms and symbols were central to Celtic religious rituals, and how were they enacted in daily life?
Celtic religion was based on the belief that the divine inhabited everything around them including animals, plants, objects, and people. The Celts believed that their gods interacted with humans through dreams, omens, and visions. They also practiced divination by reading the entrails of sacrificial victims such as cattle. Sexuality played an important role in Celtic religious ceremonies because it was seen as a means for uniting the living and dead worlds.