#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: The motions of the moon were used by the people of Ireland to predict their futures, if the #NewMoon was on its back that was a sure sign of rain but if it stood upright that was a sign of fine weather. If the new moon was pale with a ring around it, “súil circe ré” or the moon of the hen’s eye, that was a sign of rain.
Source: Under an Irish Moon (emeraldisle.ie)
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: The eternal return of the moon was naturally something mysterious, there was a saying about the #NewMoon: “On the first night nobody sees it, on the second night the birds see it, and on the third night everybody sees it.”
Source: Under an Irish Moon (emeraldisle.ie)
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: „When the #NewMoon first appeared, people would bless themselves and say “Go mbeí mis seo and tam seo arís” and wish for something, and it might just come true.“
Source: Under an Irish Moon (emeraldisle.ie)
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: In the veneration of the #NewMoon for protection we can see the admixture of old pagan beliefs with Christianity. A seventeenth century German writer wrote: “The wild Irish have this custom, that when the moon is new they squat upon their knees and pray to the moon that it may leave them vigorous and healthy.
Source: Under an Irish Moon (emeraldisle.ie)
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: Catching the first glimpse of a #NewMoon through glass was to suffer bad luck for the coming month, and worse yet if you happened to see it over your left shoulder! Whereas seeing it over the right shoulder was fine, similar to walking deiseal or clockwise around ancient stones when seeking a blessing. Should the moon pop out in front of you however you were due for a fall.
Source: Under an Irish Moon (emeraldisle.ie)
After their defeat by the Danann in the Second Battle of Moytura, some of the Fomori stole Uaithne and made off with it. They believed Uaithne was so powerful that its music could put the seasons in order, and even command the order of battle. The Dagda gave chase, and came upon them in their feasting hall. No-one had been able to play the #harp, for the Dagda had cast a #spell so that it answered only to him.#Celtic
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack https://twitter.com/MitologiaCelta/status/1505133602278887428
The Dagda encountered the black-winged Mórrigan at the River Unshin (Unius) in #Connacht, who was standing with one foot on each bank and washing the clothes of those about to be killed in the next day’s battle at Mag Tuired. True to form, when the Dagda saw the enormous goddess bending over the stream, he was overcome with desire and engaged her in intercourse. So satisfactory did she find their encounter that she agreed to support his side in the next day’s battle, singing her magical chants from the sidelines as the Tuatha Dé Danann fought their mortal enemies, the monstrous beings called the Fomorians, and finally drove them from #Ireland.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore https://twitter.com/starwheelastro/status/833432200112648193
The Dagda was a High King of the Denann. He was associated with Newgrange and the Winter Sun Standing, which is a reference to the position of the sun at the winter solstice. He could control the seasons with his magical oak harp, Uaithne. He was known to the ancient Irish people as ‘the Good God’ and ollathair, which means ‘all-father’, for his warrior-strength, protection, and generosity.#Celtic
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack https://x.com/IrishStoryTime/status/1386323664111472640
#FolkloreThursday for #WorldOceansDay: Sea captains were often born from the mating of the #Scottish Highland #Ceasg. This mermaid—half woman, half salmon—was also known as the maighdean na tuinne or “maiden of the wave.” Like other captured #faeries, she was said to grant wishes to her captor. But like any other seagoing siren, she was also capable of capturing humans, who usually lost their lives upon entering her watery domain.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore https://twitter.com/originsoflaoich/status/1494301676257357827?t=bMpvVKyS6DzIMqrs5wto1Q&s=09
#WorldOceansDay: #Fintan mac Bochra lived at least 5000 years after the Deluge, escaping it by turning into a salmon. When the water masses had receded, he turned into an eagle, then a hawk, afterwards into all the different animals of #Ireland and finally back to human form.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
#FolkloreThursday for #WorldOceansDay: In the #Scottish#Hebrides the #mermaid did not sport a magical cap as in other lands. Instead she had a magical belt that had to be stolen to tame her. Her descendants were said to have the gift (or curse) of foreseeing who would die at sea.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
As Baile Binnbhéarlach (“sweet-spoken Baile”), prince of #Ulster, traveled alone to a trysting place, a maleficent #fairy told the prince—falsely—that his lover was dead, whereupon he died of grief at Baile’s Strand, a seashore near today’s Dundalk. The spiteful sprite then carried the same story (sadly true this time) to Ailinn, a #Leinster princess, who also fell down dead of grief.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore https://twitter.com/hidden_grove/status/1580140668617641985