Celts believed there was a life after death because they worshipped nature spirits. They also worshiped springs. The Celtic calendar had thirteen months and an extra day added to the new year. In this time, day began after sunset and evening began with the dawn of darkness. The sun's decreasing strength was a concern in winter. This was why early men began to light winter fires as a way to help the sun on its journey.
Celts believed there was a life after death
Celtic belief in the existence of a life after death is based in the belief that souls continue to exist in the next world. Many believe that the soul returns to its ancestral ancestor. Similar to the belief in the Romans living underworld, this belief is also common. Lucan however used the term orbis to describe an alternative world. It isn't known if these ideas are factual or fiction.
The existence of a life beyond death was also believed to be a belief of the Early Celts. They had little faith in ethics. They had no idea about punishment by the gods. Romans wrote about Celtic beliefs and discovered 69 gods responsible for war. This suggests that for some, a life after death was desirable.
They worshipped nature spirits
The Celtic people worshiped nature spirits, especially those associated with fertility. They valued crops growing year after year and healthy cattle and sheep. Their faith in nature spirits was expressed in their religion. Many Celtic gods, goddesses, and deities were shaped like animals. Their gods embodied the elements and brought good luck and protection to the Celts.
Trees were also important to Celtic religion. The Celtics held groves sacred, and there are evidences of trees being worshipped in parts of Ireland. Some places are named after trees like Derry (meaning "oak tree") and Kildare, (Cill-Dara), both of which come from the Celtic word for oak tree.
They gave their weapons up
One of the most remarkable and unique features of Celtic religion is their willingness to sacrifice their weapons. Around 150 examples of ancient Celtic weapons have been found at archaeological sites all over the globe. These weapons were often made out of bronze and sacrificed to a god. The Romans destroyed these temples in 124 BCE, but they are not extinct.
The Celts were multitheistic and worshiped many gods. Some were unique to a region, while some were more widely known. The gods also favored those who would give up their lives. Some were more powerful than others such as Lugus, the sun-representative goddess. Other goddesses were associated rivers and healing waters. Some were associated with animals such as horses.
They believed in springs
Celts had a complicated belief system. They believed that all living organisms had sentience and a spirit. They viewed the world as a multilayered, wonderful, and sometimes dangerous theatre where humans and creatures alike lived and died. Scholars frequently contradicted their beliefs and practices. It's important that you decide what they meant.
Celts were very close to nature and saw signs in animal behavior. They loved the animal beauty and virility and associated these attributes with the spirits. Horses and stags were admired for their speed, endurance, beauty, and beauty. They also admired dogs and their keen smelling senses.
They worshipped effigies
Celts worshipped ineffigies as a way for them to show their devotion. Some made large figures from sticks and filled them up with live men. Other Celts set these effigies on fire to offer tribute to the gods. Romans banned these practices.
Celts believed in supernatural beings including fairies. The Celts believed that the soul of the deceased could reincarnate and pass from one body to the next. This belief is reflected by the Celtic mythology of fairies.