Comments on: Druid, what’s in a name? Azeroth Arbor Day Special Post http://www.rollinghots.com/2009/04/24/druid-whats-in-a-name-azeroth-arbor-day-special-post/ humble roots, branching insights from a restoration druid Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:12:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: admin http://www.rollinghots.com/2009/04/24/druid-whats-in-a-name-azeroth-arbor-day-special-post/comment-page-1/#comment-447 admin Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:10:33 +0000 http://www.rollinghots.com/?p=663#comment-447 Kae, I'm right there with you on this. My own study for my dissertation doesn't go back as far as the druids, but is very intertwined with the fili poets, who were probably the spiritual inheritors of the druidic traditions. I wish the two of us could sit down over a pint and have a chat. =) Kae, I’m right there with you on this. My own study for my dissertation doesn’t go back as far as the druids, but is very intertwined with the fili poets, who were probably the spiritual inheritors of the druidic traditions. I wish the two of us could sit down over a pint and have a chat. =)

]]> By: Kae http://www.rollinghots.com/2009/04/24/druid-whats-in-a-name-azeroth-arbor-day-special-post/comment-page-1/#comment-446 Kae Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:38:50 +0000 http://www.rollinghots.com/?p=663#comment-446 Very nice :) I've undertaken similar research myself, and even picked up a book a while back that went into as much detail as it could about celtic life, "Among Druids and High Kings." What troubles such research is that nearly everything we have comes from Caesar's own writings, and he was writing as a man who feared them and sought to conquer them... thus in many cases needed to spread propaganda. It makes me wonder about some of the things that were said re: human sacrifice; many cultures did have such practices, so... who knows? Was it really ritual sacrifice, or was it something akin to execution (in choosing the victim) with spiritual overtones? Or was it all a fabrication by the Romans? History is usually written by the conqueror, after all. Many common holidays or components of them stem from the druids, though. The Christmas tree and bringing of greens (particularly mistletoe and holly) into the home at that time for decor (solstice), Halloween, and even Groundhog Day... all remnants of practices from the times of the druids, which were transferred into the new religions/cultures when the Celtic people were converted or conquered. Tales of the ancient druids, the Tuatha de Denaan, the celts, and their old deities do fascinate me. Thanks for posting this :) Very nice :) I’ve undertaken similar research myself, and even picked up a book a while back that went into as much detail as it could about celtic life, “Among Druids and High Kings.” What troubles such research is that nearly everything we have comes from Caesar’s own writings, and he was writing as a man who feared them and sought to conquer them… thus in many cases needed to spread propaganda. It makes me wonder about some of the things that were said re: human sacrifice; many cultures did have such practices, so… who knows? Was it really ritual sacrifice, or was it something akin to execution (in choosing the victim) with spiritual overtones? Or was it all a fabrication by the Romans? History is usually written by the conqueror, after all.

Many common holidays or components of them stem from the druids, though. The Christmas tree and bringing of greens (particularly mistletoe and holly) into the home at that time for decor (solstice), Halloween, and even Groundhog Day… all remnants of practices from the times of the druids, which were transferred into the new religions/cultures when the Celtic people were converted or conquered.

Tales of the ancient druids, the Tuatha de Denaan, the celts, and their old deities do fascinate me.

Thanks for posting this :)

]]>