Celtic Pagan Holidays

This category is all about Celtic pagan holidays. It can be fun, celebrating traditional Celtic pagan holidays. However, these holidays, festivals and seasons hold a lot of meaning. And, for those of us that practice Wicca or witchcraft, a lot of magic. I myself am not wiccan, but nothing against Wicca. Just a plain old witch. But that is a complex topic, Wicca and witchcraft.

Let’s first define Celtic, because it will give you a richer view of these holidays’ origins.

The six modern Celtic nations below are the origin of this category’s holidays. These areas sit along the western edge of Europe. Some refer to this region as the “Celtic fringe.”

Long before Roman rule, Celtic people lived and migrated across much of Europe. However, their languages lasted the longest in these six regions.

Today, there are basically six recognized Celtic Nations: But, it would also depend on who you ask.

The Origins of Celtic Pagan Holidays

Ireland is one of the core Celtic nations. It has strong Gaelic roots, a living Celtic language, and lasting traditions. Celtic people settled there around 500 BC. They shaped daily life through tribal rule, iron tools, and oral law. Poetry, music, and Brehon law grew from this period.

The Irish are a Gaelic people. Customs, stories, and sports like hurling still reflect this past. English is common today, but Irish (Gaeilge) remains central to Celtic identity. Irish closely links to Scottish Gaelic and Manx. Unlike other Celtic regions, Ireland is a sovereign nation. Ireland avoided Roman conquest, which helped preserve language and customs. But, Celtic culture still evolved and changed.

Scotland is also a Celtic nation. Scottish Gaelic still survives, though fewer speak it today. Traditions like bagpipes and tartans reflect this heritage. Scotland stands with Ireland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall, and the Isle of Man as a modern Celtic nation.

Wales is a country within the UK, but not a sovereign state. Still, it is clearly Celtic. Welsh is a Brythonic (Brittonic) Celtic language. Harp music and poetry are key traditions.

The survival of the Welsh language helped shape a strong national identity after Roman rule.

Brittany sits on a peninsula in northwest France. Despite deep Celtic roots, many do not link France with Celtic history. The area has a rugged coast, medieval towns, and strong local customs.

Cornwall lies in southwest England and feels different from much of the country. Its peninsula location helped protect its Celtic identity. Cornwall is an English county, yet holds national minority status. Many see it as a nation within England.

The Isle of Man sits in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland. It governs itself as a Crown dependency. The island blends Celtic and Viking history, shown at the Manx Museum in Douglas.

These places share Celtic pagan holidays and roots, though customs differ.

Imbolc

• February 1 to 2.
• Marks early spring and the start of lambing.
• Connected to the goddess Brigid long before Christian tradition.
• Rooted in farming and seasonal life.

Beltane

• April 30 to May 1.
• A May Day festival centered on fire and new life.
• Well recorded in Irish and Scottish history.
• Fire, flowers, and sexual symbols come from ancient practice.

Lughnasadh (Lúnasa)

• August 1.
• The first harvest of the year.
• Named after the god Lugh.
• Linked to games.

Samhain (my favorite pagan holiday)

• October 31 to November 1, though some celebrate this on November 2.
• Ancient Gaelic festival ending the harvest and welcoming winter.
• Recorded in early Irish texts from before Christianity.
• A liminal time linked to ancestors and thinning boundaries.

These above four festivals are also known as the four “fire festivals”

Celtic Pagan Holidays: Solstice and Equinox

These Celtic pagan holidays were perhaps less celebrated. However, for some they have greater significance in witchcraft.

Yule (Winter Solstice)

• Winter solstice was noted across Europe, including Celtic regions.
• Proof of a unique Celtic “Yule” is limited.
• Many modern Yule customs come from Norse or later mingled traditions.

Midsummer (Summer Solstice)

• Celts knew the solstice, but it was not a main festival.
• It held less ritual weight than the fire festivals.

Ostara / Spring Equinox

• No solid evidence of a Celtic equinox festival
• The name and celebration are modern reconstructions

Mabon / Autumn Equinox

• The name “Mabon” is Welsh mythology repurposed in the 20th century
• There is no evidence of a named Celtic autumn equinox festival at all.  It was observed, but simply referred to as the autumn equinox festival.

These four Celtic pagan holidays are popular all over the world. An equinox is when day and night are the most equal, twice per year. Solstice refers to the longest day, or night.

So, the dates of equinoxes and solstices change a little each year.

They usually shift about six hours later each year. This happens because Earth takes about 365.24 days to orbit the Sun. It does not take exactly 365 days. Because of this, the events can fall on different calendar dates.

• For example, equinoxes often fall around March 20 or Sept 22. Remember, there are two equinoxes a year.
• The summer solstice is usually June 20 or 21.
• The winter solstice is often December 21 or 22.
• However, leap years adjust the calendar.
• Every four years, the timing shifts back into place.

Celtic Pagan Influence Over Time

This is what I meant by “it depends on who you ask.” This map shows the spread of Celtic influence over time. So, as you can see, Celtic customs and traditions spread, and also changed, as Celts migrated.

So, do not become rigid about pagan holidays. They have changed with cultural mixes, it is okay to mix old traditions with new ones. Also, Celtic is not the only flavor of pagan. Follow us for more on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook (Meta) or TikTok, Blessed Be.