Three New Youtube Videos
July 26, 2014
With Lúnasa fast approaching for those of us in the northern hemisphere, Gaol Naofa is pleased to announce the release of a number of new videos.
Continuing the festival-themed collection we have on our Youtube channel so far, we’re picking up where we left off at the beginning of the month and have now uploaded new videos for the Gaelic festival of Lúnasa, as well as the primarily Scottish festival of Là Fhèill Mìcheil (The Feast of St Michael, or Michaelmas). As with the other videos, we aim to give a brief introduction to the major themes, lore, and traditions associated with these festivals, giving an idea of how it can be celebrated today.
While it may seem odd to explore saints’ days, in most communities these are now secular events, with cultural celebrations that contain traditional, seasonal customs with clear ties to the older deities and spirits. Often observances that our polytheist ancestors made at the fire festivals now survive in the traditions of the neighboring saints’ day.
Tying in with Lúnasa as well as Samhain, we also have a video on the Prophecy of the Morrígan from Cath Maige Tuired (The Second Battle of Mag Tured). While the story of Cath Maige Tuired is centred around Samhain, many of the major themes the tale deals with are also relevant to Lúnasa, not least the episode where Lugh spares the life of Bres in exchange for knowledge on how best to plough, sow, and harvest the crops. But Lúnasa is also a traditional time for peace, when everyone sets aside their differences to come together to celebrate the day in the company of their people and community, as they gather together to honour the sacrifice of Taillte and take part in the games and festivities that Lugh instituted in memory of her.
The prophecy the Morrígan (or Badb) sings at the end of the tale speaks to this major theme of peace, that we, as Gaelic Polytheists, focus on at this time of year. As we head towards the festival of Lúnasa, we invite you to join us in this prayer for peace…
Sith co nemh,
bid sír nae.
Sith.
Peace to the sky,
life and land everlasting.
Peace.
Gaol Naofa would like to extend special thanks to Ali Isaac for giving us permission to use her photo of Taillte’s assembly site, as well as to the members of our Gaol Naofa community who have shared their photos of sacred sites, family and friends.
Filed under: Signal Boost
