Celts believed in the existence of life after death and worshiped nature spirits. They worshiped springs, and even sacrificed their weapons. The Celtic calendar had thirteen months and an extra day added to the new year. In this time period, day began after sunset and night began with the arrival of darkness. In winter, the sun's declining strength was a cause of concern. This led early man to start winter fires in order to assist the sun's journey.
Celts believed that there would be a new life after death
Celtic belief in a life after the death is based upon the belief that the soul lives on in the next realm. Some believe that the soul returns back to the figure associated with the ancestral ancestor. Similar to the belief in the Romans living underworld, this belief is also common. Lucan, however, used the term orbis for an alternate universe. It isn't known if these ideas are factual or fiction.
The belief in a life after death was also believed by the early Celts. But, they had very limited beliefs in ethics. They did not believe in punishment by the gods. The Romans wrote about Celtic beliefs, and found 69 or more gods who were responsible for war. This suggests that some people would prefer a second life.
They worshipped nature spirits
Celtic people venerated nature spirits, especially those related to fertility. Crops that produce crops year after year were important to them, as well as healthy sheep and cattle. Their faith in nature spirits was expressed in their religion. Many Celtic gods, goddesses, and deities were shaped like animals. Their gods were incarnated by the elements, and they brought protection and luck to the Celts.
Celtic religion also valued trees. Celtics believed that groves were sacred. There are also evidences of trees being worshipped throughout Ireland. Some places are even named after trees, such as Derry (meaning "oak-tree") and Kildare (Cill-Dara), which derives from a Celtic word for oak tree.
They sacrificed weapons
One of the most remarkable and unique features of Celtic religion is their willingness to sacrifice their weapons. Nearly 150 examples are found in archeological sites across the globe. The weapons were often made of bronze, and they were sacrificed to a god. They were still in existence when the Romans destroyed them in 124 BCE.
The Celts believed in polytheism and worshiped multiple gods and deities. Some were very specific to a certain region, while others were more universally known. People who gave up their lives were also favoured by the gods. Some were more powerful then others, such Lugus (representing the sun), for example. Other goddesses were also associated with rivers or healing springs. Some were associated with animals such as horses.
They believed in springs
Celts had a complicated belief system. They believed all living creatures have sentience, and spirit. They viewed the world as a multilayered, wonderful, and sometimes dangerous theatre where humans and creatures alike lived and died. Scholars often contradicted their beliefs, so it's important for you to understand what they meant.
Celts were close to nature and could often see omens in animal behavior. They valued the virtues and beauty of animals and associated spirits with them. They admired horses and stags for their endurance, speed, and beauty. They also admired dogs for their keen senses of smell.
They worshipped effigies
Celts worshiped effigies to express their devotion to the gods. Some people created enormous figures from sticks and then filled them with live humans. These effigies were set on fire by other Celts as a tribute to Gods. However, these practices were banned by the Romans.
Celts believed there were supernatural beings, such as fairies. They believed the souls of the deceased were reincarnated and could pass from one body or another. This belief can be seen in Celtic mythology, which is about fairies.