Celtic Life

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Upon hearing the term ‘Celtic,’ the first things that come to mind are the awe of their intricately patterned jewelry, lively music, and the flowing tunics they wore. These people are also known for being fierce warriors and for their superstitious, nature-centered religion. Celtic customs are still alive and well in places like Ireland and the western reaches of Britain, but within this essay I shall explore their origins and traditions.

To start off, I will address the Tumulus peoples. They were among the growing number of societies whom spoke dialects that branched off of Indo-European; a language originating in, and spread from, the border between the continents of Asia and Europe. The Tumulus, among other groups and tribes, began fanning out into Europe approximately three-thousand years before Christ was born. Archeologists labeled this particular group as Tumulus for their tendency to construct impressive burial mounds, or barrows, for their dead kings (Hogain, 2). Just north of the Alps is where their remnants have been found.

Farther north above these people lived the group nicknamed Urnfield. They are called as such for their burial traditions as well; storing cremated bones in urns and burying them in ‘flat cemeteries.’

These two groups, the Tumulus and the Urnfield, met in the Danube basin, which is the area in southeastern Europe that includes what we know as Romania and several Slavic countries. At approximately 1000BC they merged together to become one society. Through this mixing of their people, this combined group formed a new Indo-European dialect; new handle: pro-Celtic. The name Celt is believed to originate from the Indo-European root –kel which means ‘to strike.’ A Greek writer, Pausonius, stated t...

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...htly; a second color often embroidering the hem.

Works Cited

Ancient Celtic Symbols Information. 2007. 17 March 2011 .

"BBC." BBc.co.uk. 14 March 2011 .

"Celtic Pendant History & Meaning." silvercelticpendant.com. 12 March 2011 .

Hogain, Daithi O. The Celts: A History. Suffolk: Boydell Press, 2002.

Inventory Glossary. 10 March 2011 .

Leigh, Mike. Celtic Culture. 7 November 2010. 12 March 2011 .

Matson, Gienna and Jeremy Roberts. Celtic Mythology A to Z. New York: Chelsea House, 2004.

"Traditional Female Celtic Clothing." eHow.com. 11 March 2011 .

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