Ancient Celtic Rituals
Through out Celtic History, Rituals were an ingrained part of life, Carried out in an attempt to secure a desired fate,for example: to win a battle, or to insure a bountiful harvest, happy marriage or complication free child birth. The Celtic people, like many parts of the world at the time had a large variety of deity's that would dwell over a couple of matters, for example, Abellio,- God of the apple tree. or Cerridwen Goddess of the earth, nature and fertility. Unlike the Christian system of 'one god fits all', the Celtic people believed in a community of Gods and Goddess, that all had there special gifts.Through out a number of rituals, it was customary for the summoning party to offer a gift or sacrifice in exchange for the help of the God, or Goddess in question. Thus completing the transaction.
"Rivers, lakes, springs or wells were focal points for Celtic rituals. Coins, metalwork and animal remains were among the votive offerings frequently found at these sites. Within the context of a pastoral, cattle-based culture that typified much of the pagan Celtic world, it makes sense that these water sites would acquire nurturing and maternal connotations.
Significantly, rivers were often personified as female divinities in the Celtic world. In one myth, a noble Dagda had a well where nine hazel trees overhung and dropped their crimson nuts in the water, causing bubbles of mystic inspiration. Only the Dagda or his three cup-bearers were allowed to draw water from the well. But a young woman, Boann, disobeyed the taboo and the waters rose up, pursued and drowned her. The well’s water formed a river named after her—the Boann or Boyne." - http://www.linneatanner.com/blog/celtic-rituals-sacred-sites-votive-offerings/
"Although there were ritual centers, every mountain, spring, marsh, tree and outcrop was endowed with divinity and thus ritual enactments could be performed any place. Lakes, rivers, and springs had special appeal as seen from the votive deposits in Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Geneva in Switzerland, Llyn Cerrig Bach in Wales and the rivers Thames and Witham in England."
Festival rituals and ceremonies
It was general practice for the Celtic people to do some pretty barbaric things, and this was never more the case then at group gathering such as festivals and ceremonies. Acts of ritual and offering were so ingrained in the thread of the culture at the time that many acts of killing or massacre was seen as common place, necessary evils to please the gods.
"Publius Terentius Varro, a Narbonese Gaul (82-36 B.C), writes that with the aid of certain ointments the Druids put on their feet, the Celts would walk over a bed of burning coals at some of their festivals. John Toland said in The Critical History of the Celtic Religion and Learning that it was customary for a noble of distinction to walk barefoot over hot coals trice while carrying a sacrificial animal’s entrails in his hands. Then he would take this offering to the Druid who waited in a white skin at the altar. If the nobleman escaped unharmed, it was reckoned a good omen, but if he was hurt, it was deemed unlucky for both the community and himself.
Giraldus Cambrensis (1146-1220 AD) in Expurgatio Hibernica, gives an account of the ritual slaughter of a mare. The king-elect eats its flesh, and drinks and bathes in a broth made from the carcass. This was considered a ritual union through which the king seeks fertility for himself and his kingdom." - http://www.linneatanner.com/blog/celtic-rituals-sacred-sites-votive-offerings/
The most famous Druidic ritual, thanks to the writings of Pliny the Elder (AD 23–79) is the cutting of mistletoe from a sacred oak with a sickle on the sixth day of the moon followed by the sacrifice of two white bulls. He reports, “They believe that the mistletoe, taken in drink, imparts fertility to barren animals and that it is an antidote for all poisons.”
One divination ritual was connected with the election of the High King of Ireland. A Druid would eat the flesh of a slain bull and drink its blood. He was then put to sleep by four other Druids, and the person of whom he dreamt would be the future High King. If he lied about his dream then the gods would destroy him.
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