The Celts are an ancient European people who lived from about 800 BCE until approximately 400 CE. They inhabited much of western Europe, including modern-day Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Canada, and United States. Celtic religious life was centered around nature, spirituality, and the afterlife. It had no written record because they used verbal storytelling instead. Their sexual norms and symbols were central to their religion and enacted socially and ritually.
In terms of sex, the Celts believed that it was a gift from the gods. Marriage was sacred and monogamous, but divorce was easy. Homosexuality and transgenderism were accepted. Nudity in public bathhouses was common. Men and women were equal in power. Women could own property, work outside the home, and fight in battle. Men often wore kilts or tunics with phallic symbols, such as spirals and triskeles, while dancing naked at festivals.
Priests were called druids and were highly respected. They performed fertility rites for crops, animals, and humans. Rituals included human sacrifice (especially children) and orgies. The goddess Brigid is associated with midwives, childbirth, healing, poets, and smiths. Her festival was Imbolc on February 1st-2nd, which marked the beginning of springtime. She may have been bisexual or lesbian based on her association with the heroine Cuchulainn who dressed like a boy and seduced men.
The god Lugh was a warrior, craftsman, and kingmaker. His festival was Lughnasadh on August 1st-2nd, which marked the end of summer and harvest time. He was associated with sexual potency because his name meant 'light' or 'bright'. He had multiple wives, including Brighid the White Goddess, who birthed his son, Mabon. Druids sacrificed horses to him during rituals.
The goddess Epona was a fertility deity. She rode a chariot pulled by horses and carried gifts to newborn babies. Her festival was Equinox on March 20th-21st. Horses were sacred to her and often used in rituals. Sex was considered holy when done as part of a marriage between a man and woman.
The goddess Aphrodite was associated with fertility, love, beauty, and desire. Her festival was Beltane on May 1st-2nd. It celebrated the arrival of Spring and the union of the Sun and Moon. Men and women would dance naked around bonfires while wearing phallic symbols and performing erotic dances.
The god Dagda was known for his huge penis. He had many lovers, including Boann and Danu. His festival was Samhain on October 31st-November 1st. It marked the beginning of winter and the death of the year. Rituals included wearing animal skins, masks, and dancing around fires. Sexual promiscuity was encouraged and seen as a way to honor the gods.
Celtic religious life was focused on nature, spirituality, and the afterlife. Sexual norms and symbols were central to it and enacted socially and ritually. Marriage was monogamous but easy to end, homosexuality and transgenderism were accepted, men wore kilts or tunics with phallic symbols, druids performed fertility rites, and horses were sacred to Epona.
Which sexual norms and symbols were central to Celtic religious life, and how were they enacted socially and ritually?
The Celts believed that fertility was essential for ensuring prosperity of the land and healthy crops. Therefore, they held elaborate fertility rites during their festivals that often involved nudity and orgiastic dancing. The celebrations usually took place on hilltops surrounded by trees, as these places symbolized both male and female reproductivity. They also had sexual partners from outside marriage who fulfilled various roles in society.