Celtic festivals

The Celts in Ireland had several festivals to celebrate important landmarks throughout the year.

These coincided with key events such as the summer and winter solstices, and the spring and autumn equinoxes.

Click on the symbols below to discover more about each festival.

Imbolc – festival marking start of Spring

Ēostre – forerunner of Easter

Beltane – festival of fire

Litha – festival of light

Lughnasadh – harvest festival

Mabon – celebration of autumn equinox

Samhain – forerunner of Halloween

Yule – ancient festival pre-dating Christmas

Shamrock – national flower of Ireland

Irish Symbols – each with their own fascinating origins and still relevant today

Celtic jewelry – symbols of love and friendship

Celtic festivals

Celtic Cross

Brigid’s Cross

How Ireland protects its harp and shamrock emblems…take care if using them

Why the Guinness harp faces the opposite way to the official Irish harp

Yule – ancient festival pre-dating Christmas

Easter Lily – sign of peace and hope for the future

St Patrick myths and legends

Irish Art – clues to ancient Irish cultures and beliefs

The Green Man – symbol of rebirth

The Awen (The Three Rays of Light)

Celtic Tree of Life (Crann Bethadh)

Triskele – From the Greek meaning ‘three-legged’

Celtic Cross – symbol of faith and culture

Celebrating the rich diversity of Irish culture

Irish Art – pre-dating the Pyramids

Celtic Cross jewelry – steeped in history and symbolism

Ēostre – the Spring Equinox – forerunner of Easter

Beltane – festival of fire to welcome the summer

New age beliefs about Ogham

The Spiral – thought to represent the sun

Brigid’s Cross (Brighid’s Cross, St Brigit’s Cross)