Beltaine by the sea
by Fedelm Cruithni
Mí na Beltaine - the merry month of May - is right around the corner, and for the ancient Celts, the pastoral beginning summer, the season when cattle were driven to their summer pastures and warriors sharpened their swords for battle. This year's festival is scheduled for the weekend of May 9 to 11, which is not nearly as far-fetched as it seems. In Scotland,
Lá Bealtaine was celebrated on May 15, while in Ireland,
Sean Bhealtain (Old May) started around the eve of May 11. Another intriguing difference is the change of scenery: we'll be celebrating Beltaine by the sea in
Vannes, on the south coast of Gaulish peninsula of
Armorica.
Beltaine by any other name - Beltane, Bealtaine, Bealtuinn, Belotenia - is still one of the two major Celtic fire festivals, which Celtia plans to celebrate in style with a blazing bonfire beach party hosted by
Mogh Roith Baoisgne and a wickedly fun wickerman burning sponsored by the
AncientWorlds Underworld. Other plans include an exploration of the Armorican neighbourhoods led by local tour guides, a magical megalithic mystery tour throughout the Celtic lands, a Bardic College poetry challenge featuring Breton lais, a Legend of Ys adventure, articles, quizzes and more. We'll also provide the beer, the beach balls and the
binious (Breton bagpipes). Meanwhile, read more about Breton lais and megalithic mania below.
Get Lai-ed at Bardic College this Beltaine
by Flidais Niafer
For Beltaine, Bardic College will offer a chance for everyone to demonstrate their skills using the form of the Breton lai, which should be both fun and interesting.
Just to whet your appetite, here is a short introduction to the Lai. The word "lai" comes from the Welsh Llais or the Gaelic Laio(dh) which loosely translates as "a song." However, the lai can be either lyric or narrative. The specific form known as the Breton lai is misleadingly named, as it encompasses works not just from Brittany but from Ireland, Wales and Cornwell too. This is a vernacular form and consequently there are many variations permitted, unlike the more formal poetry forms. The only real poetic rule is that it is composed in rhymes and involves a romantic theme - perfect for Beltaine, right? More details on the Lai will be posted as our festival date approaches.
Beltaine Megalith Mania
by Vortigern Aedui
Many questions surround the megaliths of Europe. Who built them? Why were they built? How were they built? These questions would have surrounded the Celts, as the megaliths were already in place by the time of the Celtic invasion, many dating back to 4,000 BC.
These giant stone structures most certainly were a sight of awe to the incoming invaders. While many simply marveled at these giant stone edifices, many modified them to suit their own needs. There is evidence of one menhir (standing stone) being used as the roof of a dolmen (stone structure used for burials).
We will take you on an in-depth journey through the ramparts of Celtia to find the answer to many of the questions already posited, and perhaps we will find the answers to more.
So join us in Celtia this Beltaine, as we take a trip through the megaliths of Brittany, Spain, France, Cornwall, Scotland, Britain, and Ireland. Perhaps we will find more in our journey, but this is as far as we have made it.
Bardic College news flash!
by Flidais Niafer
There are several news items from Celtia's Bardic College. Fenian Niafer, one of the longtime Ollamhs, is taking a leave of absence while he gets settled in his new home in Dublin. He now holds the honorable position of Poet, and the office of Ollamh is shared by MacMorna Niafer and Flidais Niafer. We wish Fenian all the best and hope he'll be able to return to Celtia soon!
Ancient wickerman found in Vannes delta
by Vortigern Aedui
The wickerman. The name alone brings thoughts of bonfires and vanities, but one such figure was found alive and fully functional in France earlier this week. The Wickerman, more affectionately know as "Wicca" by his homies in the street, has become more than just a figment of popular imagination. Earlier this year, archaeologists on a beach in Brittany uncovered what appears to be a fully functional wickerman, complete and unburnt.
"It is a remarkable find," lead archaeologist Candide Voltaire said in a rare interview earlier this week. "It is a step in the right direction for capital punishment. We are going to employ this method and see how it works. We will go from there," the scientist said with a smirk. It is hard to predict what the smirk meant, what the scientist meant by that remark, and why he was smirking at me for in the first place. Questions such as these remain, but answers about the Wickerman are solved.
In a search for Templar gold that is reported to be in the area, the treasure hunters found a treasure a little less expected and expensive. "We were looking for Templar gold in this delta here in Vannes, when lo and behold, I started digging through the mud and saw that this stick was attached to another stick, and to another. I just kept digging and finally dug up the whole thing. I was very tired by the end of the day, but now we have a fully functional wickerman." Piere LaDouche, the chief associate assistant to Voltaire, eagerly shook his head while he spoke.
To find out more on the Wickerman, be sure to check out Celtia's Beltaine event in
Gaul this year.
Caesar's Fleet defeated at Morbihan
by MacMorna Niafer
Dateline Vannes, 22 Aug., 56 BC. The Venetii fleet of merchant vessels and fishing sloops dealt the mighty Roman War Machine a resounding blow, when they discovered how easily the oars of the triremes could be fouled by fishing nets. The light-weight fishing boats darted in and out amongst the towering Roman vessels, tossing their nets onto the banks of oars. Much vulgar Latin was heard from the galley slaves. Once the Roman fleet was effectively disabled, the massive Venetii cargo vessels caught the narrower ships in a flanking movement and, using their superior weight and height, simply rolled the Romans on their sides. It was a sad day for D. Junius Brutus. Rest assured, Julius Caesar will have few kind words to say to his junior lieutenant, once they drag his body from the depths of the Morbihan
