In Pure Spirit

Traquair House is the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. It takes back to the 11th century when it was a hunting lodge for royalty. Today it’s also a bed and breakfast, a day out for corporate groups and an ideal venue for weddings. Traquair House is also the centre point to Traquair Fair. Returning in [...]

Megaliths (or standing stones) can be complete circles, incomplete circles or single vertical stones. Northern Ireland has very many standing stones and this list is just a sample. Aghalane standing stone Aghtirourke Altagore Ballygilbert Ballyloughin Ballymacaldrack Ballynahatty, The Giant’s Ring Ballynoe Ballyvennaght Banagher Beaghmore Carnalridge, The White Wife Carnanbane Carnanmore Carrick East Castleward Cloghastuckane Coolnasillagh [...]

Wookey Hole Wookey Hole is a village in Somerset, England. It is most famous for the Wookey Hole Caves. Wookey Hole Caves are believed to been inhabited by early man some 50,000 years ago. Bones and pottery from Iron Age Celtic people have also been found. Wookey Witch The Wookey Hole Caves are known for [...]

The 5th of January is the 12th night of Christmas. It is considered unlucky to leave the Christmas decorations up beyond the night of the 5th. If the decorations are still up after the 5th then superstition advices it is best to leave them up all year.

The 12th night of Christmas is Epiphany Eve. The Epiphany, on the 6th of January, is the day Christian’s record as the day Jesus Christ was revealed as God in human form. The day is also celebrated by some Christians to commemorate the Magi visiting the child Jesus.

The Epiphany has other names and other local customs. It is sometimes known as Little Christmas (or Women’s Christmas ‘Nollaig na mBan in Irish) or Dia dos Reis (Portuguese for the ‘day of the kings’). The Epiphany marks the start of the Mardi Gras season in Louisiana.

Image by wallyg via Flickr The tradition of Yule pre-dates Christianity. It is now celebrated on December the 25th by many but on December 21st or 22nd on the solstice by some Wicca. Yule is a celebration and a feast which marks the darkest point of the winter and the returning of the light. The [...]

Megaliths (or standing stones) can be single vertical stones, complete or incomplete circles. Many of the standing stones in Wales date from the Neolithic period (circa 4000 BC) and this is fairly common for megaliths in Europe. Barclodiad y Gawres Burial Chamber Bodowyr Burial Chamber Bron Y Foel Isaf Burial Chamber Bryn Cader Faner Stone [...]

It is thought that the ancient Celtic Druids may have used a Zodiac. This Zodiac was rediscovered by Robert Graves and publisied in his popular book The White Goddess* (USA*) . Graves used the work of Duald MacFirbis (1585 – 1670) the scholar and bard of clan O’Brien and bard Roderick O’Flaherty (1629 – 1718). [...]

Image by Kerrythis via Flickr We all have to find a beginning somewhere and this is where it begins for In Pure Spirit. A Celtic creation myth During the first winter a colossal and powerful giant rose from the hoarfrost. Next came the fire and the fire melted the giant. As the ice giant melted [...]