Celtic Ancestry

[Celtag]

That's quite similar to what I believe; I believe that if you're willing and able to live the life your path requires, and the gods have accepted you, then why not? If I'm wrong, I'm in a lot of trouble, my heritage is English/German and I'm following an entirely Irish path

I have Scottish, Welsh, & German ancestry so I could have gone two different ways. But I always felt drawn to the Celtic side of things more so than the German side. I;m actually more Scottish than Welsh, but I mainly follow a more Welsh path instead of a Gaelic path. But I do add some Gaelic influences in my practice.

[PhantomQueen]

I was just wondering if you thought that to practice the tradition and religions of the Celts that you needed to be of Celtic Ancestry. I myself have relatives from Scotland & Wales, but I was just wanted to know some of your thoughts on that subject.

I think it would be nice to find out the basics of your ancestry, but if you're called to another tradition, then that's whre you're meant to be. My background is English, Irish, Welsh and Finnish. I've never been interested in the Finnish tradition except to learn the language and maybe visit the country. I wouldn't mind learning more of the Welsh part, but it's the Irish that's always drawn me closer. I don't bother looking elsewhere as this calling will haul me back by the seat of my pants and plop me down to keep me in awe and wonder over something new.

[Tamina]

I was just wondering if you thought that to practice the tradition and religions of the Celts that you needed to be of Celtic Ancestry. I myself have relatives from Scotland & Wales, but I was just wanted to know some of your thoughts on that subject.

I didn't read any of the other replies, because I felt like this was a personally addressed broad question. So, I hope I'm not stepping on anyone or anything. I'm so totally new here.

For most of my life I've been drawn to many different things Celtic. Some I knew were, and some weren't. I'm only recently come to finally searching out my path, mostly because of a revelation I had about this a few days ago.

I was in my kitchen, reading a book that I've read since then isn't one I should be reading but I’m still reading it anyway. It's a Paganism book by the Higginbotham sisters. I was constantly drawn to the Celtic side, and there isn't much in the book to go on. Regardless, I didn't want to do that because I felt that I wasn't allowed. I don't have any Celtic relatives that I know of.

I didn't want to see the Greek Gods, which are the other set of things that I'm drawn to because I've written a fictional story about them and I felt that if I could fictionalize them, trivialize them in that way, then they weren't what I could find myself really believing in.

So I sat down and decided to find out where my father's name came from. I know they came over on a boat in the last hundred years. My maternal line has been here in the US since before the Declaration of Independence. So, I hopped on Google. Searched dozens of sites and kept finding the same information. My father’s surname originates in Scandinavia and was passed to the Irish, Scottish, and British after that.

Suddenly, when I read that, I remembered that ‘duh, my dad told me once that he’s got Irish and Scottish in his blood’ and didn’t the Celts travel around everywhere. After that, I felt much better about it. I don’t know why it was so important to me, but it was. Now, I don’t feel bad at all about it, I don’t feel like I’m doing something that I’m not entitled to.

Also, I’m floundering in a lot of information that doesn’t seem keyed to what I want. It’s like sifting through sand for some grains of salt and sugar when you’re trying to find out about the Celtic beliefs and pantheon on a Paganism site.

[Micheál]

My father’s surname originates in Scandinavia and was passed to the Irish, Scottish, and British after that.

I'm not nitpicking, but just elaborating on a common misconception. "British" describes the Scottish, Welsh, and Irish(in Northern Ireland, but before 1922 was the United Kingdom of Great Britain&Ireland, which covered a good part what would have been immigrated ancestors) as well as the English.

[Aster Breo]

Also, I’m floundering in a lot of information that doesn’t seem keyed to what I want. It’s like sifting through sand for some grains of salt and sugar when you’re trying to find out about the Celtic beliefs and pantheon on a Paganism site.

There is A LOT of info on Celtic culture available on line and in books, including some (but not nearly as much as for some other cultures) good info on Celtic religious beliefs. And there are two or three very good reading lists for Celtic culture and religion.

If you can describe what you're looking for, we might be able to help you find it.

[HarpFaery]

I was just wondering if you thought that to practice the tradition and religions of the Celts that you needed to be of Celtic Ancestry. I myself have relatives from Scotland & Wales, but I was just wanted to know some of your thoughts on that subject.

I have no Celtic blood in me that I know of (not from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, or any other part of Europe!). I have been attracted to all things Irish for some time now and at some point did describe my spiritual practice as 'Celtic'. These days I think I am more ecclectic.

I believe in reincarnation. This body of mine is female and of Ashkenazi Jewish descent this time 'round, but I am certain it has had many, many, different identities before.

Our souls, I believe are the amalgamation of all we have been and all we will be.

I hope that didn't come across as flippant in any way. It's just such an in depth topic it's hard to put into words my thoughts, exactly.

[Micheál]

my heritage is English/German and I'm following an entirely Irish path

There's actually a good series on at the moment, A History of Ancient Britain, which can be viewed online at the moment.(worth a watch as it goes into art, weapons, druids, e.t.c....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0108tsq

In one episode they DNA tested the host, Scottish Neil Oliver, and discovered the blood grouping of his Scottish father in pre-History wasn't found in the British Isles at all, but Southern&Western Europe. Basically there is no "Celtic Ethnicity", but "heritage" comes from cultural affiliation, which those that shared linguistic&religious similarities shared. Very similar to those that are lead, and attracted to the same cultural aspects today

[Tamina]

I'm not nitpicking, but just elaborating on a common misconception. "British" describes the Scottish, Welsh, and Irish(in Northern Ireland, but before 1922 was the United Kingdom of Great Britain&Ireland, which covered a good part what would have been immigrated ancestors) as well as the English.

Okay. So, the correct way to describe it would either be: Scottish, Irish, and English; or British?

[Celtag]

Okay. So, the correct way to describe it would either be: Scottish, Irish, and English; or British?

Your British if your from Scotland, England, or Wales, and Irish is just Irish.

[Finn]

Your British if your from Scotland, England, or Wales, and Irish is just Irish.

I suspect there would be several Scottish, English, and Welsh people who would very quickly and firmly correct you if you had the misfortune of calling them "British" to their faces.