[at-l] Folklore?

[gaudet@mediaone.net (Arthur Gaudet)]

It's called Midsummer in my reference, falling between Beltane (May 
1) and Lughnasa (August 1). In the mythographic representation of the 
8 Stations fo the year it is "the beginning and end of the year; the 
holly king succeeds the oak king". Probably associated with male 
initiation rites, puberty rites, warrior rites. Midwinter is assigned 
the female initiation rites.

The Druid holidays were celebrated according to a lunar calendar so 
the full moon determined the date of the festival. In the neo-pagan 
calendar it's done by date (solar calendar). It just happens that 
this year they coincide.

Eclipses can only happen when the moon is full, and it doesn't happen 
every time of course. I've been reading a lot lately about Stonehenge 
and it's use as a predicting tool for eclipses. Moderns seem to think 
that the ability to predict eclipses was an essential attribute of 
the druid priesthood. Archaelogists now assign that reasoning to the 
late neolithic creators of Stonehenge.

btw, the Druids were latecomers to Stonehenge according to modern 
archaelogy. By the time they arrived on the scene Stonehenge had been 
in use for 2200 years! The construction period is from 2800 to 1500 
BC,  before Copper, Bronze, and Iron Ages. The periods given for the 
Druids range from 6th century BC to 6th century AD. So in terms of 
time, we are closer to the Druids than the Druids were to the 
Neolithic creators...

This is from John King's "The Celtic Druid's Year", John Fowles "The 
Enigma of Stonehenge" and Gerald Hawkins "Stonehenge Decoded".

RockDancer '97

>Anyone out there knowledgeable in Celtic traditions?  I'm curious if 
>any significance is attached to the summer solstice that is occuring 
>this year with a new moon.
>
>Lynn
>
>
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