Category Archives: Celtic

The Gods of Gaul

Posted on May 4, 2013 by

Beltane, the Celtic festival that we now typically call May Day, was likely named after Belenos, a solar deity worshipped by the Celts and Gauls. Not much is known about him, but he was well represented and probably very popular. … Continue reading →

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The Tree Fairies

Posted on September 24, 2012 by

One particular variety of Irish fairies are the Lesidhe, guardians of the forest. As such, I suppose they’re sort of like the Dryads of Greek mythology, but much more dangerous. One of their favorite tricks is to imitate mockingbirds to … Continue reading →

Posted in British, Celtic, Mythology | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Notes from Middle-Earth

Posted on June 18, 2012 by

There can be no doubt that Middle-Earth is a very European fantasy land. It’s based primarily on European mythology, particularly Norse and Teutonic as viewed through the lens of old England. The name “Middle-Earth” comes from Midgard, the world of … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, British, Celtic, German, Greek Mythology, J.R.R. Tolkien, Mythology, Norse | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Hey You, Dobhar-chu

Posted on June 2, 2012 by

When I came across a mention of the Dobhar-chu on Tumblr, I knew this was something I’d want to write about. It doesn’t look like there’s all that much information available online, but there’s enough for a post. It’s described … Continue reading →

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We Found Love in a Hopeless Myth

Posted on May 28, 2012 by

Am I the only one who wonders why the H is in a different position in the names of pop singer Rihanna and Welsh mythological character Rhiannon? Perhaps Rihanna’s name isn’t derived from Welsh, but what fun is that? Anyway, … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrities, Celtic, Mythology, Welsh | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tree, Tree, Tree

Posted on April 21, 2012 by

Picture by Robert Engels While many myths have the first humans created out of dirt or clay, there are other substances that some cultures considered to have been the source of mankind. In Norse mythology, the first two humans were … Continue reading →

Posted in Celtic, J.R.R. Tolkien, Mythology, Norse, Pokémon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brain Food

Posted on March 18, 2012 by

It being St. Patrick’s Day, I thought it appropriate to regale you with a bit of Celtic mythology. Okay, it’s actually only St. Patrick’s for another half hour, and I’m not sure I’ll finish this post in that time, but … Continue reading →

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Washing and Wishing

Posted on December 18, 2011 by

Today’s mythological being comes courtesy of Metropollywog: the Bean-Nighe. This is a kind of fairy in Scottish folklore, also known as the Washer at the Ford. The Bean-Nighe is the spirit of a woman who died in childbirth (there’s quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Celtic, Mythology | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Heck of a Job, Brownie

Posted on December 11, 2011 by

As I’ve written before, the idea that Santa Claus’s helpers are elves was not universal until relatively recently. In fact, Ruth Plumly Thompson’s The Curious Cruise of Captain Santa refers to them as brownies, which in a way makes more … Continue reading →

Posted in British, Celtic, L. Frank Baum, Mythology, Oz, Oz Authors, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Did You Hear About the Morrigan?

Posted on October 15, 2011 by

One of the most prominent figures in Irish mythology is the Morrigan, probably meaning either “Great Queen” or “Phantom Queen,” although it’s a little unclear who she actually was. As with many old deities, her name and function might well … Continue reading →

Posted in Celtic, Mythology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments