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lúnasa
Quiz: How much do you know about Celtic festivals?
They loved their bonfires, didn’t they?
TOMORROW – AS WELL, of course, as being rapper Coolio’s birthday – is the first day of Lúnasa.
This is the Celtic festival of the harvest, held roughly halfway between the summer solstice and autumn equinox.
Meanwhile, today is Reeks Sunday, in which pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick in honour of Saint Patrick. However, many believe that the pilgrimage pre-dates Christianity and was originally a ritual associated with Lúnasa.
They had more than their fair share of customs, the Celts, so today we’re asking you: How much do you know about Celtic festivals and traditions?
Most of us know Lúnasa, Bealtaine and Samhain, but what is the fourth major festival?
Imbolc
Nollaig
Aibreán
Fomhair
What event is linked to Samhain?
The autumn equinox
Easter
Halloween
Guy Fawkes Day
What is the total number of festivals and major Celtic observances each year?
4
7
12
8
Who built Newgrange?
The Celts- it's one of the crowning achievements of their civilisation
A people even older than the Celts who lived here before their arrival
What was celebrated during Bealtaine?
Fertility
Death
Coolio's birthday
The moon
Aside from Croagh Patrick, pilgrimages are also made to these other mountains. Which is the highest?
Slievecallan in Munster
Slieve Donard in Ulster
Church Mountain in Leinster.
The Hill of Tara
The word Celt comes from the Greek Keltoi meaning what?
Barbarian
Worshipper
Fire
Heathen
The Hill of Uisneach is said to be the sacred resting place of the Tuatha De Danann. In which county in Ireland’s Ancient East can it be found?
RollingNews.ie
Meath
Louth
Westmeath
Kildare
These Celtic traditions and beliefs largely merged into Christianity when it became widespread in Ireland. Who first brought Christianity to Ireland?
Palladius, a Roman bishop associated with Clonard and Arklow
St. Patrick, first bishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland.
Historical evidence shows that Celts burnt people inside wicker effigies. Who did they normally burn?
Virgins
Nicolas Cage
Criminals
Red headed people
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