Ceremonies

Mistletoe picking

During winter solstice the procession of druids goes to the oak tree on which the sacred plant has grown.

After going round the ritual place three times the officiating druid stops facing the North, draws with his sword a sun circle on the ground and gives orders to sound the horn towards the four cardinal points while saying "Is there peace in Celtic land ?".

Then the officiant who is equipped with a sickle goes to the tree and reminds the others with the meaning of the ritual, of this symbolical resurrection.

The Druidesses put down a white linen under the branch, after they have drawn the sacred sign of the Celtic cross while saying "Good spirits and Celtic souls".

Then the officiant cuts the clump of mistletoe and chants "O Ghel an Heu" which means "the wheat grows" [N.B. the Breton phrase was mistaken by the French for "Au gui l'an neuf", which remains a common expression meaning "the mistletoe is the sign of the new year"].

Spring equinox

The officiant orders the same calls at the four cardinal points.

Then he says that there are some Celts who wish to enter the circle.

All applicants state their name and status and the druid ask them why they want to enter the Druids Order.

A druidess comes and offers clover seedlings which will be blessed and planted as symbols of spring.

There can be admission speeches for Bards or Ovates, but this ritual is kept secret.

The return is made according to the same ceremonial.

Alban Helin during summer solstice

The ceremonial at the beginning is the same. The officiant goes three times round the place that was chosen to light the fire.

There the seven tree essences of the fire are already gathered :

fir, birch, beech, elm, apple, chestnut, oak.

Then the officiant gives order to draw with the sword the three circles in which the master of the Fire must stack the logs up.

The druidess then leads the bards or the ovates who are admitted to the dignity of Eubages

Afterwards they take the oath of secrecy, and the officiant lays a veil and the white bandeau of the druid on their heads.

The Eubage has access to the secret druidic knowledge but must not give it away.

A druidess puts a rose on the logs and lights the Solstice Fire.

They all start singing the Song of the Fire and the people taking part in the ritual come and throw a paper on which they wrote their secret wish.

After that there is the Baptism of the children.

The Baptism

The parents tell what name they have chosen for their child. Then the child is left in the godparents' care and they carry him or her over the log fire.

Then the officiating druid pours drops of water into the last flames in order to create the synthesis of the four elements :

Earth, Fire, Air and Water.

Afterwards a prayer for the sun is said.

Autumn equinox

On that day the druids have a meeting to thank the Celestial Powers.

Belen who dispenses warmth and life, and the earth Gaea who gives good benefits out.

The Druids meet under the shade of the Great Celtic tutelary oak tree.

The Oak tree has Strength and Power.

A druidess comes to the officiant with a cornucopia filled with wine and biscuits.

After she has served the officiating druid she offers the dish to the others.

Then a crown of oak is presented. It will be laid on a new elect's head.

After several prayers the ceremony ends.

Druidic prayer

God grant us protection,

And with your protection, strength,

And with strength, wisdom,

And with wisdom, science,

And with science, the search for truth,

And with the search for truth, the love of truth,

And with the love of truth, the love of each creature

And with the love of each creature, the love of God,

Of God and of all Goodness.

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